With Global Coal Usage at an All-Time High, Can Zimbabwe Justify Hwange’s Expansion?

As Zimbabwe, most of our electricity eggs are safe in the cocoon of black lumps of coal. We upgraded Units 7 and 8 last year and expect Units 1-6 to get the same treatment by the end of 2025.

This move towards coal has not been without criticism. We live at a time when the world is more aware of the damage that using fossil fuels like coal can wreak on the environment. Hence why the world is talking up renewable energy and moving away from fossils.

So, Zimbabwe is moving against the green army. How could we make moves to use even more coal when the world is moving in the opposite direction? Except, the world isn’t really moving in the opposite direction.

The International Energy Agency (IEA) has released a report that shows that the world is set to use more coal this year than ever before. Yes, you heard that right, this year is set to beat every year during Europe’s Industrial Revolution on coal usage.

According to the report, global demand for coal is set to hit 8.8 billion tonnes in 2024, a record. Asian countries are responsible for this record increase.

China is the biggest consumer is forecasted to reach 4.9 billion tonnes, a 1% increase over 2023 usage. Note how this means the rest of the world is set to use 3.9 billion tonnes, while China alone uses 4.9.

India is also on a rampage. Its demand is set to reach 1.3 billion tonnes, which is more than the EU and the US combined.

All this makes you feel a little better about Zimbabwe going down this coal path. For contrast, here are the estimates of how much coal Hwange uses.

Hwange Thermal Power Station, Zimbabwe’s largest coal-fired power plant consumes a substantial amount of coal annually to generate electricity.

However, Hwange Colliery Company Limited delivered 733,102 tonnes of coal to Hwange Power Station in 2021. Estamtes say Hwange Power Station uses between 1 and 2 million tonnes of coal per year.

Let’s work with 2 million. If it’s that, it means we command 0.02% of the global usage. Which means even if we moved away from coal completely the world’s usage would still be 8.8 billion. Our usage is beyond insignificant at the global scale.

So, for members of the green army who happen to live in Zimbabwe, I think you should rest a little easier with this knowledge. Hopefully, we can move away from coal but until we can do that, we at least know that we aren’t responsible for whatever may ail the planet from all this coal usage.

Also read:

• Kariba 250MW Floating Solar Project Gets $250m Funding: Should Appease Green Army Mad About Hwange Expansion
• Zimbabwe Loses $1.6 Billion Annually to Power Shortages: Why the Hwange Upgrade Matters
• Zim’s bet on coal at Hwange comes in clutch as water woes continue plaguing Kariba