By:
Ronnel W. Domingo 05:14 AM January 02, 2020
Forecasts that demand for coal will continue to represent a significant part of
the global electricity generation mix signal the need to reconcile what is real
and what is ideal, according to the World Coal Association (WCA).WCA was
reacting to a report from the International Energy Agency (IEA) that the use of
coal for power generation would be stable, at least in the next five years,
despite calls by environmentalists for governments and corporations to ditch
the fossil fuel and go for renewable energy sources instead.
Coal demand projections
are “a reminder that coal and coal use is a reality,” WCA chief executive
Michelle Manook said in a statement.
“It’s time for a sensible discussion and
collaboration to bridge the gap between the real and ideological worlds,”
Manook said. “The world simply cannot ignore the reality of coal.”
She expressed concern
about anticoal groups perpetuating the idea that coal cannot be part of the
low-carbon solution.
“This is simply
untrue,” Manook said. “The entire coal value chain needs to unite in support of
the coal industry to educate a global public that is largely unaware of how
coal contributes to economic growth and everyday life.”
Even then, she admitted
that this cannot be done without cooperation from governments or investors.
“The IEA’s ‘all fuels
and all technologies’ mantra is a framework for industry, government and
investment policy collaboration and success to deliver both meaningful economic
and environmental outcomes,” Manook said. “It’s vital that we see a level
playing field for all low emission technologies, to ensure rapid and mass
deployment of clean coal technologies.”
She said this was particularly
important in Asia, which was driving demand for coal and where economies needed
abundant and low-cost sources of energy to power economic growth.
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