Letter from China: Coal phase-out raises energy security risk
Coal’s long goodbye means Beijing will need to brace for reduced energy security
President Xi Jinping’s commitment to start curbing coal consumption after 2025 means the beginning of the end for China’s coal era is finally in sight. Xi pledged at the White House’s climate summit in April that China would “strictly control coal-fired power generation projects and strictly limit the increase in coal consumption” through to 2025, before ramping down coal use from 2026-2030. The timeline is later than many climate-change activists had hoped, but nevertheless represents a major turnaround for the world’s largest coal consumer. 202.5bn m³ – China’s 2021 gas target China has been making steady, if slow, progress on reducing coal as a percentage of its energy mix.
Also in this section
11 February 2026
Panellists from three LNG buyers at LNG2026 in Doha outlined their evolving procurement strategies as they navigate heightened market volatility
11 February 2026
North African producer plans to boost output by early 2030, with Europe its number one priority as export destination
11 February 2026
Maritime leaders at LNG2026 warned of the dangers of over-regulation on competitiveness, sustainability and innovation
10 February 2026
The country has opened bidding on 50 blocks in a new licensing round but will face competition for attention and will need to address concerns about security and legislation






