Multiple Asian Countries Restart Coal-Fired Power Generation to Tackle Energy Crisis

The escalating energy crisis in the Middle East is triggering a chain reaction — multiple Asian countries are being forced to re-embrace coal, and this "number one culprit" of global carbon emissions is regaining favor across several economies. Analysts warn that if this trend continues, global climate change governance could face a serious setback.

Multiple Countries Urgently Adjust Energy Strategies

Facing the pressure of constrained oil and natural gas supplies, major Asian economies have almost simultaneously adopted emergency measures to increase coal-fired power output.

India, one of the world's most coal-dependent major nations, was the first to take action. According to International Energy Agency (IEA) data, as of 2023, coal accounted for as much as 74% of India's power generation mix, while oil and natural gas combined made up only about 3%. With oil and gas procurement from the Middle East constrained, the Indian government announced the postponement of maintenance inspections at domestic coal-fired power plants, ramping up coal-fired power generation to avert the risk of widespread blackouts.

Thailand's power company decided to restart two coal-fired units that had been slated for decommissioning to ensure stable domestic electricity supply. South Korea temporarily lifted the operational cap of 80% capacity on coal-fired power stations and postponed the scheduled June shutdown of two thermal power plants. Japan likewise announced plans to increase the utilization rate of coal-fired power stations. Bangladesh has begun diversifying its coal supply channels.

Supply Side Ramps Up Production in Tandem

The surge in downstream demand quickly transmitted to upstream suppliers. Indonesia, the world's largest exporter of thermal coal, plans to raise its 2026 coal production target beyond the originally set 600 million tons. Australia, the world's second-largest exporter, has also drawn up plans to expand coal production. This simultaneous expansion on both supply and demand sides signals a "counter-trend recovery" in the global coal industry.

Climate Governance Faces a Severe Test

This trend stands in sharp contradiction to global decarbonization commitments. Under the Paris Agreement framework, nations had pledged to gradually reduce fossil fuel use, especially coal. However, the practical demands of energy security are forcing multiple countries to make "pragmatic but costly" choices in the short term.

Coal combustion is one of the primary sources of greenhouse gas emissions, producing roughly twice the carbon emissions per unit of electricity generated compared to natural gas. As the core region of global coal-fired power consumption, Asia's collective production increase will inevitably drive up total global carbon emissions. International observers note that if prolonged tensions in the Middle East continue to constrain oil and gas supplies, Asia's "return to coal" trend could evolve from an emergency measure into a medium-term norm.

Outlook

In the short term, the dilemma Asian countries face between energy security and climate commitments will persist. This situation once again underscores the urgency of accelerating renewable energy deployment — only by achieving substantive breakthroughs in clean energy sectors such as wind power, solar photovoltaics, and energy storage can the path dependency on fossil fuels be fundamentally broken, avoiding the recurring cycle of "returning to coal" with every geopolitical crisis. Meanwhile, the industry holds high hopes for AI technology's application potential in smart grid dispatch, energy demand forecasting, and renewable energy generation efficiency optimization, which could provide new technological support for the global energy transition.