Despite the hopes of some, the narrative that coal is about to reach the end of its useful life could not be more incorrect or misleading.
While thermal coal still fuels approximately 35% of global electricity production [1], its importance extends far beyond power generation. Market demand for non-energy-related coal continues to rise across multiple industries and applications around the world. Even as renewables and nuclear energy gradually gain traction, coal clearly remains one of the world’s most essential natural resources because of its diverse, multiple, and beneficial uses.
Thermal coal powers 75% of global steel production [2], with 71% of that production relying upon metallurgical coal as a feedstock [3]. Producing one ton of steel requires 0.6 tons of metallurgical coal [4]. Add to these numbers a 46% increase in steel production projected by 2030 to meet the rising demand for infrastructure in almost every corner of the world [5]. And it’s not just steel –coal provides around 90% of the energy consumed by cement plants worldwide [6].
Ironically, building the massive new infrastructure inherent in reaching aspirational net zero goals – decades away, with no guarantee of success – necessitates huge amounts of coal and fossil fuels to produce the steel, cement, and transmission lines, plus the extensive transportation to make it possible.
The carbon properties of coal also serve as a key element in building materials, advanced manufacturing, chemical and pharmaceutical products, fertilizers, and more. This 100% natural resource contributes to the production of items used daily by consumers, or that support public health, such as: activated carbon used in water and air purification and in kidney dialysis; carbon fiber, a strong light-weight reinforcement used in construction and manufacturing of airplanes, automobiles, mountain bikes, and tennis rackets; carbon foam, providing ultra-high performance engineering materials in the military, industrial, aerospace and commercial product markets; and silicon metal, used to make lubricants, water repellents, resins, cosmetics, even shampoo and toothpaste. Thousands of products we all take for granted every day.
The fact remains, global coal demand hit an all-time high of 8.79 billion metric tonnes in 2024, according to the IEA [7]. That’s a ton of coal for every man, woman and child on Earth. Whether you realize it or not, we are all heavy consumers of coal.
Non-energy applications of coal are critical in developing parts of the world where improving the standard of living requires construction of new infrastructure, or improvements to what currently exists. Steel and concrete provide the backbone of those efforts, enabling nations to elevate the quality of life for their citizens. Simply put, coal is everywhere, making modern society possible.
So, for these and many more reasons, reports of the death of coal have been greatly exaggerated. In fact, a new, energy-friendly administration in Washington recently declared coal to be a critical mineral, and in a White House ceremony, declared it “essential to secure America’s economic prosperity and national security, lower the cost of living, and provide for increases in electrical demand.” Coal has always been, and will always remain, an essential catalyst of America’s natural resources economy. In all its forms and uses, coal is here to stay.
Sources:
[1] IER, Coal is Still King—Globally
[2] IEA, Steel Industry Overview
[3] World Steel Association, World Steel in Figures 2024 (page 6)
[4] Count on Coal, American Infrastructure Requires American Mining
[5] IEA, Global steel production in the Net Zero Scenario
[6] The Coal Handbook, Second Edition (2023), Coal Utilization in the Cement and Concrete Industries (page 627-663)
[7] IEA, Coal Mid-Year Update 2025
