China Boosts Coal Production to Avoid Power Shortages, Confounding Climate Goals

China plans to increase its coal production to 4.6 billion tons by 2025 to meet its power needs and avoid a repeat of last year's shortages, which caused blackouts across the country. Despite its efforts to invest in wind and solar power, the government is seeking to rely more heavily on coal-fired power due to economic growth concerns and a decline in renewable energy production during a dry summer.

Key Takeaways:

• China aims to boost coal production to 4.6 billion tons by 2025, a 12% increase over last year's 4.1 billion tons, according to Ren Jingdong, a deputy director of the National Energy Administration.
• The country plans to increase power supply through coal, with a focus on building large-scale wind and solar bases in the Gobi Desert, a project that includes 450 million kilowatts of wind and solar power.
• Despite investing heavily in renewable energy, coal is expected to supply 60% of China's power in the near future.
• The government has reported a reduction of 3.8% in carbon emissions per unit of economic output last year, but overall energy use increased 5.2% over the same period.
• China's economic growth slid to 2.2% in the first six months of this year, less than half the official target of 5.5%, prompting the government to rely on coal-fired power.

Statistics:

• 4.6 billion tons: China's projected coal production by 2025.
• 4.1 billion tons: China's coal production in 2024.
• 12%: Increase in coal production by 2025 compared to last year.
• 300 million tons: Additional coal production planned for this year.
• 60%: Proportion of coal in China's power supply predicted for the near future.
• 20%: Proportion of non-fossil fuel sources in China's power supply by 2025, as per the ruling party's five-year development plan.
• 5.2%: Increase in total energy use in China over last year.
• 3.8%: Reduction in carbon emissions per unit of economic output in China last year.
• 2.2%: China's economic growth in the first six months of this year.

Sources:

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• "China plans to boost coal output through 2025 to avoid power shortage: official." Reuters.
• Zhao Chenxin, deputy director of the National Development and Reform Commission.
• Ren Jingdong, deputy director of the National Energy Administration.