Is Coal Dead?

Graphs for you to digest in answer to the question, is coal dead?

Change in Energy Consumption 2000-2012

Coal Consumption 1965-2011

Coal Production 1980-2010

Does this look like a dead resource to you? Far from it, coal underpins all industry and as the world advances coal production increases. The recent announcement putting Solid Energy under administration and the sale of the Vale coal mine on New South Wales for $1 are not a reflection of the industry's prospects.

The world's biggest producer, China, plans to increase its output, accounting for 60% of all coal output by 2019, that's only four years away...>>Link<< 

Why the drop in the coal price then? Two factors, a slight drop in demand from Europe and America, combined with an increase in supply from new mines in much cheaper areas. Mines in NZ, North America and Australia find it hard to compete, that's all. To keep up they'll have to employ new technology.