Key Facts
- After EU Enlargement in 2004 and 2007, the economic importance of coal has further increased. The EU includes Member States where indigenous coal plays a leading role on the domestic energy market.
- Currently, approximately 30% of electricity generation in the EU-27 is coal-based. In a number of EU Member States, coal accounts for more than 50% of total power generation.
- Coal – whether domestic or imported – will continue to make a vital contribution to the security of energy supply, to a diversified energy mix and a sustainable economic development in the EU.
- Coal contributes to a large extent to the creation of employment, added value and wealth in the EU. In 2010, the coal industry provided some 255,000 jobs in the EU-27.
- EURACOAL welcomes environmental, in particular preventive, climate protection. However, climate protection policies should be designed in a way to enhance investments in the continuous modernisation of coal-fired power plants.
- With regard to a secure, competitive and at the same time sustainable energy supply, EURACOAL has developed a Clean Coal Concept including a reduction of SO2, NOx and dust, improved energy efficiency and the long term vision of CO2 capture and storage.
- The European coal industry is ready to participate constructively in drawing up and implementing the medium and long-term R & D strategies being proposed in this area.
- As the umbrella organisation of the European coal industry, EURACOAL sees itself as the voice of coal in Europe and therefore as a partner of policy makers and public authorities for all coal related issues.
