To fill their production contracts in 2024, Chinese coal mines are tending to wash their coal less, producing the contract tonnage but with a lower calorific value.
Most of China's coal production is from underground mines with mining cost increasing with depth.
The figure is representational in that shows about 800 billion tonnes have been mined so far above 600 metres mine depth while total Chinese coal production to date is more likely to be 130 billion tonnes.
What can be interpreted from it is that some 80% of coal reserves above 600 metres mine depth have already been mined and 60% of the coal between 600 metres and 1,000 metres depth.
While China's annual coal production increases were galloping along, there was another energy boom 15,000 km to the east which also had geopolitical consequences - the US tight oil boom.
The US has its coal endowment to fall back on while the only alternative available to China is nuclear.
If the projected annual Chinese coal production decline of 75 million tonnes was wholly replaced by nuclear, that would increase demand of uranium metal by 1,179 tonnes each year.
https://wattsupwiththat.com/2024/04/12/net-zero-fossil-fuels-are-leaving-us-before-we-leave-them/
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