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Coal has been one of the fastest growing fuels since the beginning of the 21st century. Amongst its largest consumers are countries of North-East Asia, a vast and diverse sub-region which includes just six countries: China, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Japan, Mongolia, the Republic of Korea and the Russian Federation. Altogether, these countries consume approximately 60% of the coal produced worldwide. Despite the gradual uptake of alternative fuels and energy conversion approaches, especially renewables, coal is expected to continue playing large share in the energy mix of these countries. In order to mitigate the negative impacts associated with the production and consumption of coal, it is necessary to promote and accelerate the deployment of cleaner and more efficient technologies. Against this background, this study was prepared with the aim of assessing the status of a set of coal technologies in North-East Asia, with a focus on "cleaner coal", and identifying opportunities for sub-regional cooperation. The study was prepared based on the contributions of coal-sector experts from North-East Asian countries, and it covers a set of different areas related to the production and utilization of coal: (i) efficiency-enhancing coal technologies; (ii) coalbed methane recovery and utilization; (iii) coal gasification; (iv) coal liquefaction; and (v) carbon capture and storage.

Coal has been one of the fastest growing fuels since the beginning of the 21st century. Amongst its largest consumers are countries of North-East Asia, a vast and diverse sub-region which includes just six countries: China, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Japan, Mongolia, the Republic of Korea and the Russian Federation. Altogether, these countries consume approximately 60% of the coal produced worldwide. Despite the gradual uptake of alternative fuels and energy conversion approaches, especially renewables, coal is expected to continue playing large share in the energy mix of these countries.

In order to mitigate the negative impacts associated with the production and consumption of coal, it is necessary to promote and accelerate the deployment of cleaner and more efficient technologies. Against this background, this study was prepared with the aim of assessing the status of a set of coal technologies in North-East Asia, with a focus on “cleaner coal”, and identifying opportunities for sub-regional cooperation. The study was prepared based on the contributions of coal-sector experts from North-East Asian countries, and it covers a set of different areas related to the production and utilization of coal: (i) efficiency-enhancing coal technologies; (ii) coalbed methane recovery and utilization; (iii) coal gasification; (iv) coal liquefaction; and (v) carbon capture and storage.

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Energy Division +66 2 288 1234 [email protected]