Cheap coal from abroad makes the producers from the Central Appalachians worry. The American companies announced that they will boost the volumes of coal supplies from Colombia, Russia, and Indonesia as the fuel delivered from these counties is much cheaper than the U.S. one. According to the Commerce Department and reports by SNL Energy, the coal imports in the United States posted 1.23 million tons in Q1; that is 73.1% more than last year. Figures for May and April also set records compared to 2013.
Southern Co, one of the largest purchasers of this fuel, bumped up the Colombian coal imports by 500,000 tons. “The primary driver for the increased purchase of Colombian coal was in order to provide the most cost-effective fuel for our customers,” the Southern spokeswoman said. In 2010, the United States imported about 1 million tons a month; the total volume of coal imports was 12.63 million. However, natural gas fell in price and the demand for coal slowed down. Three years later imports slid to 5.04 million per year.
Besides, energy companies try to reduce the sulfur content in coal to diminish the quantity of emissions released to the atmosphere. So, it is cheaper to them to buy low-sulfur-concentration coal than to use clean coal technologies. Assuming that, coal deliveries from Russia are increasing so far. Last year imports of Russian fuel totaled 33,017 tons. Today, this post-Soviet nation and the U.S. have strained relationship, but sanctions do not limit coal supplies. The issue is unlikely to be debated in the nearest future.
