LITTLETON, Colorado, June 12 (Reuters) - A heat wave across China, Japan, Taiwan and South Korea looks set to drive coal use for electricity generation to new highs over coming weeks, priming the region that accounts for more than 60% of world coal emissions to boost pollution further.
Forecasts for Beijing, Hong Kong, Japan, Taiwan and South Korea are all calling for temperatures well above local long-term averages in the coming weeks, according to Refinitiv data.
This means power producers will expect greater electricity demand over the coming months from homes, apartments and businesses, and rack up power generation fuels accordingly.
Japan, South Korea and Taiwan have all reduced year-to-date coal imports compared to the same period in 2022, but China's sheer scale means its increased tonnage more than outweighs the decline in imports seen elsewhere in East Asia.
A steep jump in China's thermal coal imports has lifted total East Asia coal imports to new highs in Jan-June 2023China's coal consumption will also set the overall tone for regional emissions, even if other countries continue to pare back coal use in power mixes.
Persons:
Gavin Maguire, Tom Hogue
Organizations:
Authorities, International Energy Agency, Reuters, Thomson
Locations:
LITTLETON , Colorado, China, Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, Beijing, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Taipei, Seoul, Asia, Korea, East Asia, pare