In preparation for their 1998 Plenary meeting, the members of the IEA’s Coal Industry Advisory Board prepared … individual papers addressing the key issues facing the coal industry at this challenging time. The result is a collection of … unique perceptions on the future role of coal from the leaders of the industry. They provide a valuable, first-hand insight …

China is the world’s largest producer and consumer of coal, and an increasingly important participant on the … international coal market. Paradoxically, while China is now a major coal exporter, it is also a coal importer. As China commits … itself to further economic reform and increased involvement in the global economy, its coal industry faces major challenges …

China’s coal, mined locally and available at a relatively low cost, has brought enormous benefits to energy consumers … in China and to those outside the country who enjoy the products of its coal-based economy. Yet from another perspective …, China’s coal use has a high cost. Despite progress, health and safety in the thousands of small coal mines lag far behind …

Public opinion related to the consumption of coal is directed primarily to its environmental impact in light of ongoing … efforts to reduce CO2 emissions and tackle global climate change. Nevertheless, the benefits of coal as a widely available and … will harness the potential of coal and its contribution to sustainable and equal energy spaces. …