DÉCRYPTAGE – Producers like Russia are reaping profits. China is turning more towards this very abundant resource on its territory.
In the coal basin of Kansk-Achinsk in Siberia, as well as in Indonesia, in East Kalimantan, immense open-pit mines are more active than ever. Hydraulic shovels are biting into the coal vein while uninterrupted lines of trucks haul the ore up winding roads in a cloud of dust.
Just like elsewhere, there is no longer any question of interrupting or even slowing down the production of this highly polluting fuel. The Gulf War, with the blockage of the Strait of Hormuz and the production of gas and oil it entails, is putting coal back at the center of energy strategies.
Une matière première pour la chimie en Chine
In particular, Beijing is capitalizing on this ore. “It is clear that two directions in China will strengthen with this crisis,” emphasizes Joseph Delatte, specialist in energy at the Montaigne Institute. China will intensify the electrification of its activities, via renewable energies and nuclear power but also with coal, which still represents even more…
[Context: The article discusses the increasing focus on coal production in countries like Russia and China, highlighting the importance of coal in the energy strategies of these nations.]
[Fact Check: Coal remains a significant part of the energy mix in many countries despite efforts to transition to cleaner forms of energy.]
