Roman Bilousov: Coal in the World Economy as a Paradox of Development

Coal continues to be one of the key energy resources of our time. As Roman Bilousov notes, even in 2022, coal provided about 36% of the world’s electricity generation. This clearly demonstrates the paradox: on the one hand, the global need for decarbonization, on the other, the sustainability of coal in the world’s energy balance.

According to the researcher, proven reserves will last for another 130–150 years at the current level of production. Coal is more evenly distributed in the world than oil and gas, is characterized by a lower cost and guarantees a stable energy supply regardless of weather conditions. It is especially important for China and India, where it accounts for 65–70% of the energy balance. This is not only energy security, but also the basis of industrial development and employment.

Belousov emphasizes that coal remains critically important for metallurgy – more than 70% of the world’s steel is produced using coking coal. It is also actively used in the chemical industry and is becoming the basis for the latest technologies: gasification, production of synthetic gases and hydrogen. More than 7 million people work in this area worldwide. Australia receives about 15% of foreign exchange earnings from coal exports, and Russia uses it as an alternative to gas in remote regions.

At the same time, as Belousov notes, coal remains the main source of CO₂ emissions, which makes technological innovations necessary. He considers carbon capture and storage (CCS), gasification, hydrogen production and modernization of thermal power plants to be the most promising.

In conclusion, Roman Belousov concludes: the future of coal does not lie in its complete abandonment, but in technological transformation. Only a combination of economic efficiency with innovation can ensure a balance between development and the requirements of environmental sustainability.