Coal is a black, combustible fossil fuel formed from ancient plant matter, primarily used for generating electricity, producing steel and cement, and as a fuel in various industries. In this article, we will know the top 7 coal-producing nations in the world.

Coal is a black, combustible fossil fuel formed from ancient plant matter, primarily used for generating electricity, producing steel and cement, and as a fuel in various industries. In this article, we will know the top 7 coal-producing nations in the world.

Top 7 coal producing countries powering the world’s energy needs

Indonesia is rapidly increasing its reliance on coal-fired power plants to produce ‘eco-friendly’ electric vehicles and batteries.

The irony is striking.

Indonesia, already one of the world’s top CO2 emitters, is planning to bring more coal power online. The Southeast Asian nation currently has plants capable of producing 18.8 gigawatts (GW) of coal power under construction.&nbsp;

As per media reports, most of these plants will be dedicated to industries and commercial consumers, rather than regular grids. Aluminium smelters and nickel and cobalt processing facilities will be amongst those getting maximum benefit.

It is interesting to note that these industries are being vigorously promoted by the Indonesian government in order to turn the country into a major EV hub.

<h2>Indonesia’s top focus is EV manufacturing</h2>

Indonesia is swiftly increasing its nickel production in response to global demand. In 2022, the country witnessed a 60 per cent surge in nickel production, encompassing half of the world's total output.

The manufacturing of battery-grade nickel requires intricate metal processing, triggering the establishment of new smelters across Indonesia.&nbsp;

By the conclusion of 2022, the nation was home to 15 nickel smelters and had intentions to construct a minimum of six more.

Watch:&nbsp;Is Indonesia building its new capital at the cost of environment?

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The demanding process of converting low-grade nickel into battery-grade nickel within these smelters requires substantial energy. This is where ‘captive coal plants’ enter the picture or those dedicated especially to these industries.

A recent CELIOS report underscores the close relationship between the surge in coal plant construction and electric vehicle battery production.&nbsp;

A majority of these plants are devoted to the steel and nickel processing sectors, concentrated on the Sulawesi and Maluku islands. These facilities are predominantly backed by Chinese companies.

<h2>Indonesia’s massive loophole</h2>

In 2021, President Joko Widodo's administration declared a halt to new coal-fired power plants after 2023.&nbsp;

However, the ongoing construction of various plants, including captive ones, is still permissible. This convenient loophole was established by a 2022 regulation that dilutes the moratorium and commitments to phase out coal.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/6-miss-indonesia-universe-contestants-lodge-sexual-harassment-complaint-against-organisers-623516">Also read:&nbsp;6 Miss Indonesia Universe contestants lodge sexual harassment complaint against organisers</a>

According to this regulation, new coal plants can continue development and operation until 2050, provided they are "integrated with industries that focus on enhancing the added value of natural resources or are integral to national strategic projects contributing significantly to job creation and/or the nation's economic growth."

Since the nickel and aluminium smelters meet both criteria – metal refinement and national strategic importance – there exists no limitation on the number of coal plants that can be established to cater to their needs.

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Indonesia is rapidly increasing its reliance on coal-fired power plants to produce ‘eco-friendly’ electric vehicles and batteries. The irony is striking. Indonesia, already one of the world’s top CO2 emitters, is planning to bring more coal power online.

Indonesia is rapidly increasing its reliance on coal-fired power plants to produce ‘eco-friendly’ electric vehicles and batteries. The irony is striking. Indonesia, already one of the world’s top CO2 emitters, is planning to bring more coal power online. The Southeast Asian nation currently has plants capable of producing 18.8 gigawatts (GW) of coal power under construction. As per media reports, most of these plants will be dedicated to industries and commercial consumers, rather than regular grids. Aluminium smelters and nickel and cobalt processing facilities will be amongst those getting maximum benefit. It is interesting to note that these industries are being vigorously promoted by the Indonesian government in order to turn the country into a major EV hub. Indonesia’s top focus is EV manufacturing Indonesia is swiftly increasing its nickel production in response to global demand. In 2022, the country witnessed a 60 per cent surge in nickel production, encompassing half of the world's total output. The manufacturing of battery-grade nickel requires intricate metal processing, triggering the establishment of new smelters across Indonesia. By the conclusion of 2022, the nation was home to 15 nickel smelters and had intentions to construct a minimum of six more. Watch: Is Indonesia building its new capital at the cost of environment? × The demanding process of converting low-grade nickel into battery-grade nickel within these smelters requires substantial energy. This is where ‘captive coal plants’ enter the picture or those dedicated especially to these industries. A recent CELIOS report underscores the close relationship between the surge in coal plant construction and electric vehicle battery production. A majority of these plants are devoted to the steel and nickel processing sectors, concentrated on the Sulawesi and Maluku islands. These facilities are predominantly backed by Chinese companies. Indonesia’s massive loophole In 2021, President Joko Widodo's administration declared a halt to new coal-fired power plants after 2023. However, the ongoing construction of various plants, including captive ones, is still permissible. This convenient loophole was established by a 2022 regulation that dilutes the moratorium and commitments to phase out coal. Also read: 6 Miss Indonesia Universe contestants lodge sexual harassment complaint against organisers According to this regulation, new coal plants can continue development and operation until 2050, provided they are "integrated with industries that focus on enhancing the added value of natural resources or are integral to national strategic projects contributing significantly to job creation and/or the nation's economic growth." Since the nickel and aluminium smelters meet both criteria – metal refinement and national strategic importance – there exists no limitation on the number of coal plants that can be established to cater to their needs. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Indonesia is boosting its green EV industry by burning massive amounts of coal

The Chinese government has ordered the country's coal mines to "produce as much coal as possible" in a bid to mitigate the power crisis that has left millions of homes across the nation without electricity.

China orders coal mines to 'produce as much as possible'

Indonesia could phase out coal-fired power plants by 2040 if it gets sufficient financial help from the international community, the finance minister told Reuters.

The Southeast Asian archipelago is the world's fourth-most populous country and eighth biggest emitter of greenhouse gas, with coal making up about 65 per cent&nbsp;of its energy mix. It is also the world's biggest coal exporter.

Visiting the Scottish city of Glasgow for the COP26 conference, Sri Mulyani Indrawati said Indonesia would announce on Wednesday detailed plans to move to cleaner energy, with the phase-out of coal being the key issue.

Also Read |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/eco-hypocrite-leaders-businessmen-arrive-in-fuel-guzzling-private-jets-at-cop26-425903">&nbsp;'Eco-hypocrite': Leaders, businessmen arrive in fuel-guzzling private jets at COP26</a>

Previously, Indonesia said it planned to phase out coal for electricity by 2056, as part of a plan to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2060 or earlier.

"If we are going to put forward until 2040, then we need to have funding to retire coal earlier and to build the new capacity of renewable energy," Sri Mulyani said.

"That is exactly what has now become the core issue and I'm now as the finance minister calculating what does it mean to retire coal earlier. How much does it cost us" she said.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/cop26-india-uk-to-launch-solar-green-grids-initiative-425642">COP26: India, UK to launch solar Green Grids Initiative</a>

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson last week told the UK parliament Engagements that President Joko Widodo had said Indonesia was going to bring forward the abolition of coal use to 2040.

Indonesia had not previously confirmed such a plan.

Sri Mulyani told Reuters that meeting such a target was conditional on getting financial help from multilateral institutions, the private sector and developed countries.

She said the plans to be announced on Wednesday moved Indonesia's climate targets beyond "rhetoric" into the technical details and that the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and other financial institutions were "very excited" with their ideas.

The ADB is leading a group of financial institutions to devise plans to speed up the closings of coal-fired power plants in Asia, including in Indonesia, by buying the assets and winding them down.

Jakarta has identified 5.5 gigawatts of coal power plants that could be retired early in the next 8 years, estimating this would cost $25 billion to $30 billion.

Sri Mulyani said the country would also need international support to ensure electricity remains affordable when it switches to renewable sources, citing a temporary calculation of a need for $10 billion to $23 billion in "implicit subsidies" for renewable power projects until 2030.

"If this is all supposed to be financed from my taxpayers'&nbsp;money, that won't work. The world is asking us, so now the question is what the world could do to help Indonesia."

"The president always says, 'I'm going to be ambitious if the international (community) also aligns with this ambition'," she added.

Indonesia could phase out coal-fired power plants by 2040 if it gets sufficient financial help from the international community, the finance minister told Reuters.

Indonesia could phase out coal-fired power plants by 2040 if it gets sufficient financial help from the international community, the finance minister told Reuters. The Southeast Asian archipelago is the world's fourth-most populous country and eighth biggest emitter of greenhouse gas, with coal making up about 65 per cent of its energy mix. It is also the world's biggest coal exporter. Visiting the Scottish city of Glasgow for the COP26 conference, Sri Mulyani Indrawati said Indonesia would announce on Wednesday detailed plans to move to cleaner energy, with the phase-out of coal being the key issue. Also Read | 'Eco-hypocrite': Leaders, businessmen arrive in fuel-guzzling private jets at COP26 Previously, Indonesia said it planned to phase out coal for electricity by 2056, as part of a plan to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2060 or earlier. "If we are going to put forward until 2040, then we need to have funding to retire coal earlier and to build the new capacity of renewable energy," Sri Mulyani said. "That is exactly what has now become the core issue and I'm now as the finance minister calculating what does it mean to retire coal earlier. How much does it cost us" she said. Also Read | COP26: India, UK to launch solar Green Grids Initiative British Prime Minister Boris Johnson last week told the UK parliament Engagements that President Joko Widodo had said Indonesia was going to bring forward the abolition of coal use to 2040. Indonesia had not previously confirmed such a plan. Sri Mulyani told Reuters that meeting such a target was conditional on getting financial help from multilateral institutions, the private sector and developed countries. She said the plans to be announced on Wednesday moved Indonesia's climate targets beyond "rhetoric" into the technical details and that the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and other financial institutions were "very excited" with their ideas. The ADB is leading a group of financial institutions to devise plans to speed up the closings of coal-fired power plants in Asia, including in Indonesia, by buying the assets and winding them down. Jakarta has identified 5.5 gigawatts of coal power plants that could be retired early in the next 8 years, estimating this would cost $25 billion to $30 billion. Sri Mulyani said the country would also need international support to ensure electricity remains affordable when it switches to renewable sources, citing a temporary calculation of a need for $10 billion to $23 billion in "implicit subsidies" for renewable power projects until 2030. "If this is all supposed to be financed from my taxpayers' money, that won't work. The world is asking us, so now the question is what the world could do to help Indonesia." "The president always says, 'I'm going to be ambitious if the international (community) also aligns with this ambition'," she added.

Indonesia could phase out coal by 2040 with financial help, says finance minister

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Top 7 coal producing countries powering the world’s energy needs

Indonesia is boosting its green EV industry by burning massive amounts of coal

China orders coal mines to 'produce as much as possible'

Indonesia could phase out coal by 2040 with financial help, says finance minister