Page 7 - AsiaElec Week 05 2023

AsiaElec COAL AsiaElec

Coal imports hit record as Tokyo,

Seoul eye nuclear increase

ASIA ASIA’S big three coal importers, China, Japan Beijing’s options are limited.
and South Korea, who combined accounted Japan and South Korea meanwhile do have
for over half of all global thermal coal imports other options, leading some analysts in the region
in 2021, once again set an import record as the to view increased coal imports as more linked to
region works to get back on its feet after three long-term energy security than immediate power
years of coronavirus (COVID-19) lockdowns needs.
and economic stagnation. South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol made
Figures released for December thermal headlines at home and overseas last month by
imports indicate the three countries set a calling for more nuclear output, in part as a way to
16-month import high as Beijing, Tokyo and reduce coal imports and rising emission numbers.
Seoul readied for the year ahead. Seoul remains committed to 34.6% of all power
Totalling just over 43mn tonnes, this is the generation coming from nuclear by 2036, and is
highest monthly import number posted since actively pushing a nuclear export drive to boost
the summer of 2021, according to data released its own standing in the nuclear community
by ship-tracking firm Kpler. worldwide.
Emissions too saw a commensurate rise with a The government of Prime Minister Fumio
1.3% increase year on year compared to 2021; the Kishida in Japan, however, is still struggling to
result a 4.03bn tonne jump in emissions. convince the general population of the need to
And despite moves by all three governments restart some of its idling reactors.
towards individual net-zero goals in recent Prior to the 2011, power output from nuclear
months, that number looks set to rise further power plants made up about 30% of the total in
in 2023, most notably in China, where coal Japan.
dependency far outweighs that seen in its eastern A 2018, energy plan released by Tokyo has
neighbours. now decreased this number to 20-22% by 2030,
This higher projection now runs counter to although with the anniversary of the March 11, Seoul remains
speculation in mid-January that the then-ap- 2011, earthquake and subsequent meltdowns
proaching Chinese New Year break, unusually at the Fukushima nuclear power plant (NPP) committed
long in 2023, was expected to push down overall approaching, Kishida may have to wait until
import totals for the year. demand peaks in summer to make his case. and to 34.6%
But with President Xi Jinping having said that make FY22-23 momentous by shattering the
China “could not part from reality”, given that annual targets as well. And not rest there; once of all power
the country is “rich in coal, poor in oil and short we achieve [the] 700mn tonne production tar- generation
of gas”, last year, and with over half of all energy get that should be a benchmark base for further
produced in the country still coming from coal, growth.”™ coming from
nuclear by

2036.

Week 05 02 •February•2023 www. NEWSBASE .com P7