India is likely to be the second largest consumer of coal, surpassing the United States, in the next five years, says a report.
“China and India would lead the growth in coal consumption over the next five years... while India will become the largest seaborne coal importer and second-largest consumer, surpassing the United States,” according to a report by International Energy Agency (IEA).
The report further said that coal demand is expected to increase in every region of the world except in the U.S., where coal is being pushed out by natural gas.
“In fact, the world will burn around 1.2 billion more tonnes of coal per year by 2017 compared to today — equivalent to the current coal consumption of Russia and U.S. combined.
“Coal’s share of the global energy mix continues to grow each year, and if no changes are made to current policies, coal will catch oil within a decade,” according to IEA Executive Director Maria van der Hoeven.
India’s projected demand of coal in the current fiscal is 772 million tonnes, as against target production of 578 MT, leaving a gap of 194.7 MT.
The IEA is an autonomous organisation which works to ensure reliable, affordable and clean energy for its 28 member countries.
