China's coal shortage could leave other countries in the dust

[Throck]

https://www.aljazeera.com/amp/economy/2021/9/28/chinas-coal-shortage-could-leave-other-countries-in-the-dust

China, the world’s top coal consumer, is in dire need of more supply and is willing to pay any price – a move that threatens to leave less fuel for energy-starved rivals.

With winter on the way for much of the world and natural gas prices at record levels, economies across the globe are competing for a finite supply of coal. At the center of the scramble is China, where stockpiles are low and demand is at an all-time high. The dirtiest fossil fuel, which was struggling against cleaner energy sources, is now seeing its biggest comeback ever, complicating international climate talks set to begin in just a few weeks.

China will expand coal procurement at “any price to ensure heating and power generation in winter,” the China Electricity Council said in a statement on Monday. While more than 90% of the fuel the country uses is mined locally, it’s difficult to raise local output at short notice.

I cringe when I read articles like this, I've read several. Couple of friends have been to China and seen the perpetual industrial haze first hand. It lingers like a dome way into the rural areas.

What can't we get some of our top scientist over there to talk to them?

[2naSalit]

1. And the coal trains keep rolling...

Through my town and on the the ocean where it ends up in China. Every day, at least one long train, full of coal.

[Hortensis]

2. Otoh, China is phasing back investment in coal plants and production.

This article from E&E News/Climatewire is 2 days old:

What China’s coal phaseout means for the world

It took just one man — Chinese President Xi Jinping — to sound the death knell for the public funding of coal.

But the countries that have most depended on China to keep consuming the world’s dirtiest fossil fuel were preparing for its funeral even before Xi announced last week that China no longer would build new coal-fired power plants overseas.

Take Bangladesh. Earlier this year China announced it would phase out coal investments after Dhaka said it wanted to repurpose billions of dollars in loans that included coal projects.

https://www.eenews.net/articles/what-chinas-coal-phaseout-means-for-the-world/

[Throck]

3. The mind explodes when subsequental stories come out.

Reading all this economic conflict strikes me as the economic conditions Japan was in right before WWII. Japan wanted to be this economic giant and took what they couldn't get by normal trade. I'm just spooked and sleep with one eye open.

OTOH China is killing it's own people with the plumes of soot and smoke. Not to mention putting out the CO2 we've worked so hard to reduce.

[Hortensis]

4. Understandable. And there are always plenty. Of course,

as far as climate is concerned, they needed to be coming out 50 years ago.

[Throck]

5. At one point China was a major exporter of solar cells too.

I don't get it.