In absolute terms, china's coal footprint is increasing, and will continue to increase in the short term, as of early 2026, they were still opening new coal plants.
In absolute terms, china's coal footprint is increasing, and will continue to increase in the short term, as of early 2026, they were still opening new coal plants.
Their coal capacity is increasing, but the utilization is continually falling.
China is a semi-planned economy. The coal plants are more a form of insurance than a practical and economical source of power.
China is shifting it's coal use from direct burning in coal power plants to coal based oil, gas and chemicals, reducing the need for energy imports that could be cut off in a conflict. Carbon, in form of CO2, will still be released to the atmosphere from this products.
https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/climate-energy/chines...