Coal Consumption and International Energy Agency

coal mines in Australia: It ranks Australia as a "high risk" exporter because of the low forecast growth in global coal consumption and low coal prices, according to Nine News Australia. The International Energy Agency has said global coal consumption will grow at just 0.8 per cent a year until 2020 - a dramatic slowdown from 4.2 per cent a year over the past decade. The report, Stranded Assets and Thermal Coal, examines the world top-20 thermal coal miners for their exposure to risks as global coal demand slows and the resource comes under pressure from community opposition. Compiled by Oxford Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment, the Stranded Assets report also finds coal mines in Australia are threatened by emerging environmental regulation and by protests and community activism."Protests against coal assets create a reputational risk for the associated companies," the report says. The report also concludes Australian coal-fired power plants face a "utility death spiral" of falling profitability and value because of declining electricity demand and the growth and projected cost-competitiveness of renewable alternatives. Coal mines in India - a potential major export market for Australia - are also threatened by community opposition. (news.financializer.com). As reported in the news.