Coal seen as fuel to drive emerging economies

Fossil fuels are seen as the solution to developing nation’s energy woes

 Coal not renewables is likely to be the best solution for providing energy to an estimated 1.6 billion people who have no source of clean energy, the World Energy Congress heard in its final day of sessions in Daegu. Fatih Birol, the chief economist of the International Energy Authority (IEA)  said that developing countries were most likely to follow the example of South Korea, China and India in fuelling economic development with coal rather than green energy. The final day of the congress began with an address from Ban Ki-moon, the secretary-general of the United Nations, who declared 2012 the international year of sustainable energy for all. “Take the Korean example,” he said. “The gover