Global coal use jumped to a record high this year because of the sharp increase in natural gas prices. This prompted a wave of fuel switching away from NatGas by utilities for power generation, pushing up demand for price-competitive options, including coal, in many countries. There are emerging signs across the Western world that 'gas-to-coal switching' could be reversed, perhaps only temporarily, as warmer weather is expected across Europe and the US. The latest 2-week outlook for the Lower 48 is above-average temperatures for…
