Coal use increases, but investment lags

High levels of demand are not translating into greenfield investments due to climate policies

Global coal use is set to have risen by 1.2pc in 2022, to a record high of more than 8bn t, according to the IEA’s annual market report on the sector. In China—the world’s largest coal consumer with 53pc of demand—a heatwave and drought pushed up coal power generation during the summer, offsetting a drag on demand from Covid-19 restrictions. India—the second-largest global consumer—saw consumption rise to 1.1bn t in 2022, with demand expected to increase again next year. “Government policies will be key to ensuring a secure and sustainable path forward” Sadamori, IEA In Europe, high natural gas prices led to significant fuel-switching to coal in electricity generation, as the growth

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