Germany is expected to import 45 million metric tons (mt) of hard coal this year following the closure of domestic mines, according to data from VDKI. This is a 1.4% rise from 2018 figures, as additional coal is purchased to ensure there is no shortage of supply, despite the increasing amount of renewables coming on to the grid, according to Energy Live News.
Around 30 million mt is expected to be used for power generation, with the other 15 million mt to be made up of coking coal and coke for steel-making. Germany’s last two hard-coal mines closed at the end of last year as part of a move to shift from unprofitable mining to imports. Green power made up 40% of total generation in 2018, resulting from Germany’s drive to replace fossil fuels.
