New technology will be one of the key points of focus for coal into the 21st Century. We will need to build off existing technical developments, continuing recent technical improvements and further explore the commercial introduction of coal gasification technology. Beyond the next decade, we will be facing a new potential concept of zero emissions to atmosphere where CO 2 capture and sequestration will be a primary focus utilising new frontier developments such as coal to hydrogen to electricity. Much of the technological development will be determined by the market conditions and signals delivered by politicians at both the international and national levels. The World Coal Institute is very aware of the importance of education in building an understanding in the community of coal's continuing role.
Japan is one of the major global coal consumers and is the world's largest importer of coal.
At present Japan consumes around 130 million tonnes of coal per annum, with half of this being used by the Japanese steel industry and the remainder mainly for electricity generation, energy production and cement production. But, like many other countries where the majority of coal consumed is imported, there is little day to day evidence or awareness of the continuing role of coal in modern Japan. People consume electricity, not coal. They also consume products made of steel but do not recognise the origins of that steel being based on coal. The coal industry does not have a public constituency or group of direct consumers within the community.