JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – Australia’s high-quality coal is in high demand in South East Asia and can play a central role in helping to reduce energy poverty in the region, the Minerals Council of Australia (MCA) has said.
Citing figures provided by Platts, the MCA stated this week that coal exports to Thailand had increased from 142 821 t in April 2015 to 556 487 t in April 2016.
“The figures demonstrate that developing nations in South East Asia require high-quality coal to meet increased electricity demand, powered by the growing urbanisation of the population,” MCA executive director for coal Greg Evans stated.
Demand for coal exports to Vietnam had also increased. Platts recently reported that demand for Australian coal from Vietnam had risen by 539% in February 2016, compared with February 2015.
Evans pointed out that the International Energy Agency had forecast that Australia’s exports of coal would increase by 36.7% to 2040, increasing the Australian share of global coal trade from 29% in 2013 to 33% in 2040.