Coal Unable To Feel World's Burning Appetite

[run2Jesus]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23719312/

[run2Jesus]

updated 4:31 a.m. ET, Thurs., March. 20, 2008
Long considered an abundant, reliable and relatively cheap source of energy, coal is suddenly in short supply and high demand worldwide.

An untimely confluence of bad weather, flawed energy policies, low stockpiles and voracious growth in Asia's appetite has driven international spot prices of coal up by 50 percent or more in the past five months, surpassing the escalation in oil prices.

The signs of a coal crisis have been showing up from mine mouths to factory gates and living rooms: As many as 45 ships were stacked up in Australian ports waiting for coal deliveries slowed by torrential rains. China and Vietnam, which have thrived by sending goods abroad, abruptly banned coal exports, while India's import demands are up. Factory hours have been shortened in parts of China, and blackouts have rippled across South Africa and Indonesia's most populous island, Java.

more at above link....

[quiet_kate]

Is it just me, or does it sound like we're starting to run short on just about everything?

[jds6958]

Is it just me, or does it sound like we're starting to run short on just about everything?

We are not running short on problems.

[jds6958]

I did not read the whole article, I just skimmed it. As I understand it most people believe that we have about 400 years of coal. That may be true, but we only have about 40 years of easy to get to coal and that may be a stretch. I was reading that on some thread here. So let's see...

Peak gold
Peak oil
Peak food
Peak population
Peak coal

[I'm all 67X]

We are not running short on problems.

Nope, but one good thing we are running short on is time...:rapture

[Christopher Clemons]

I disagree with peak coal. While other countries in the world are rapidly depleting their stocks, the United States has the largest proven coal reserves in the world. What is unfortunate is the carbon haters will probably be so zealous they will tax our ability to utilize this resource into oblivion. :ohno

[Amanda's mom]

Nope, but one good thing we are running short on is time...:rapture

CAn't run short soon enough. :rapture :yeah

[jds6958]

I disagree with peak coal. While other countries in the world are rapidly depleting their stocks, the United States has the largest proven coal reserves in the world. What is unfortunate is the carbon haters will probably be so zealous they will tax our ability to utilize this resource into oblivion. :ohno

Yeah, it is still too early for that...I know we have a lot of coal, I just don't know how obtainable it is...The harder it is to get to, the more expensive it will become....

I know very little about coal...

[HisAlways]

I disagree with peak coal. While other countries in the world are rapidly depleting their stocks, the United States has the largest proven coal reserves in the world. What is unfortunate is the carbon haters will probably be so zealous they will tax our ability to utilize this resource into oblivion. :ohno
:thumb I agree. With recent coal mining disasters, the insurance for the companies is probably a pretty penny, the breathing in those mines can be hazardous, and miners "should" make very good wages.