Kitco News: Coal CO2 emissions in the US will rise 15% in 2021

In its Short-Term Energy Outlook released today, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) noted that the increase in economic activity and easing of the COVID-19 pandemic have contributed to rising energy use in the United States.

EIA expects that U.S. coal production to total 600 million short tons (MMst) in 2021, which is 61 MMst (11%) more than in 2020. The increase is driven primarily by rising electricity demand. In 2022, EIA expects coal production to grow by an additional 5 MMst (1%).

EIA said it expects that U.S. coal exports to be about 81 MMst in 2021, 12 MMst (17%) more than in 2020, with most of this growth to come from rising demand for steam coal in Europe and Asia as increased steel prices during 2021 and 2022 drive exports. Forecast U.S. coal exports in 2022 rise by an additional 12 MMst (14%), EIA added.

EIA estimates that U.S. energy-related carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions decreased by 11% in 2020 as a result of less energy consumption related to reduced economic activity and responses to COVID-19.

In 2021, energy-related CO2 emissions will increase about 6% from the 2020 level as economic activity increases and leads to rising energy use, EIA said. EIA also expects that energy-related CO2 emissions to rise in 2022, but by a slower rate of 2%.

EIA said it expects that after declining by 19% in 2020, coal-related CO2 emissions will rise by 15% in 2021 and then decrease by 1% in 2022.

(Report by Vladimir Basov for Kitco News)