India to overtake US in coal consumption by 2017

India is likely to be the second largest consumer of coal, surpassing the United States, in the upcoming years, says a report.

“China and India would lead the growth in coal consumption
over the next five years, while India will become the largest seaborne coal
importer and second-largest consumer, exceeding the United States,” according
to a report by International Energy Agency (IEA).

The report further said that the demand in coal is expected
to increase in every region of the world except in the U.S, where coal is being
replaced by natural gas.

“The world will consume nearly 1.2 billion tons of coal per
year by 2017 compared to today which is equivalent to the current coal
consumption of Russia and U.S. combined.

Share of coal in global energy mix continues to grow each
year, and if no changes are made to current policies, coal will catch oil
within a decade,” according to Executive Director of IEA.

 India's projected
demand of coal in the current fiscal is 772 million tons, against target
production of 578 MT, leaving a gap of 194.7 MT.

Sourced