Letter from China: Energy security ambitions get a wake-up call
China decarbonization plans (those communicated at least) look nice on paper. They are unrealizable and when I say that I am not even talking about the cost of it all which would crush the economy. China needs stability, energy stability, and one way to reach that is storing enough primary energy to last a while. Gas storage does not work very well there so they do the thing that works. Coal can be heaped up on giant mounds where it remains until someone needs it. It’s a very patient commodity and China appreciates that very much.
