Global coal demand to overtake oil by 2018
Cost is the main driver behind steep increase, consultancy says
Global demand for coal will overtake oil consumption by 2018 as China’s energy needs continue to soar, William Durbin, from consultancy Wood Mackenzie told the World Energy Congress 2013. According to Wood Mackenzie research, global coal demand will reach 4.5 billion tonnes of oil equivalent (toe) by 2020, up from 3.6bn toe in 2010, a rise of 20%. Two-thirds of this rise in demand will come from China. In 2020, global oil demand is expected to reach 4.4bn toe, Wood Mackenzie said, a 10% increase on 2010 levels. The International Energy Agency expects global gas demand to reach 3.9 trillion cubic metres (cm) in 2018, up from 3.4 trillion cm last year. China’s power demand is expected to reac
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