Coal reliance growing in Philippines and Indonesia

• 4 months ago (2024-07-02)
• David Flin

Asia 892 Coal 296

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A report from the climate and energy think tank Ember says that coal accounts for an increasing share of electricity generation in the Philippines and Indonesia, which have become the world’s most coal-dependent nations, overtaking Poland and China which have both reduced their dependence.

The growing reliance on coal in Indonesia comes despite an international injection of $20 billion to help the country develop alternative sources of electricity.

In 2023, the share of electricity generated from coal in Indonesia rose marginally to reach a new record high of 61.8 per cent. Coal use in the Philippines rose sharply by 3 per cent to 61.9 per cent. The increase comes as both countries use coal to meet rising demand, although in the Philippines, coal generation grew by more than the rise in demand. Ember said that this was because production from other sources fell.

Ember said: “Overall, Indonesia and the Philippines are the two most coal dependent countries in Southeast Asia and their reliance on coal is growing fast.”