When it was announced in 2023 that the African Union would become a full member of the G20, I darkly joked on a podcast that the AU’s entry into the body could very well mark the moment the G20 lost its status as one of the most important global coordination forums. Mark my words, I said, soon The Economist will be like “Uhhh, the G20 is OVER – it’s the ...
Category: Coal Power
China Drives Indonesia’s Push for Clean Energy and More Coal
China sits at the heart of Indonesia’s energy paradox — driving the country’s ambitious shift toward renewables while remaining deeply entrenched in its coal economy. Chinese financing and technology are accelerating Indonesia’s clean energy buildout, from nickel refining to electric vehicles ...
China’s Power Paradox: Record Renewables, Continued Coal
By Sara Hussein Call it the China power paradox: while Beijing leads the world in renewable energy expansion, its coal projects are booming too. As the top emitter of greenhouse gases, China will largely determine ...
China’s Solar Expansion in Indonesia Still Relies on Coal
In West Java, a province just east of Jakarta, Indonesia, a sprawling industrial park is rising. Backed by Chinese cement giant Hongshi Holding Group, the $5 billion complex promises to produce the solar panels and batteries that the world desperately needs to combat climate change.
Philippine Fishers Struggle as China-Funded Coal Projects Expand
Canopies of old trees, a port, and a solar farm came into view as the air-conditioned bus approached Mariveles town in Bataan province. Within minutes, after traversing a tree-lined, well-paved road, the bus reached its destination: the freeport area of Bataan, ...
Indonesia’s Coal Production Hits Record in 2024, with China Driving the Growth
Indonesia’s coal production hit a new high in 2024, reaching 831.6 million tons, 17% above the target. This boost is largely thanks to strong demand from China, the world’s biggest coal importer, along with other key markets in ASEAN. While ...
China’s Role in Indonesia’s Coal-Powered Industry Poses Challenge to Prabowo’s Green Goals
Indonesia’s energy transition strategy has sparked debate after conflicting statements from top officials about the future of coal power. While President Prabowo Subianto recently announced, at the G20 summit in Brazil, an ambitious plan to cease all coal and fossil fuel ...
To Speed Up Coal Plant Retirement, Policymakers Need to Better Understand the Costs and Benefits
By Rishikesh Ram Bhandary and Kevin P. Gallagher Coal-fired power plants will have to be rapidly phased down to meet the Paris Agreement targets and avoid the catastrophic costs of inaction on climate change. At ...
Coal-Free Future: A Diary From China-Indonesia Energy Field Trip
Do you remember when the weather was small talk? It used to be a conversation you would have with a stranger at the bus stop, perhaps about the imminent rain or how unusually hot today is before it became quiet again and your ride arrived.
Indonesia May Be Wasting Its Ties With China and Climate Partnership Full Potentials
We are still six months away from the official presidential inauguration. Still, China has already invited Indonesian President-elect Prabowo Subianto to visit Beijing to meet Chinese leader Xi Jinping in person. During the visit, Prabowo reiterated his promise to continue Jokowi's development model, including partnerships with China. ...
China’s Potential as a Reliable Partner for Coal Plant Phase-Down in Africa
By Niccolò Manych and Tsitsi Musasike The future of the electricity system lies in renewables, both globally and in Africa. Although a green energy transition has multiple benefits for African nations, many continue to ...
Backgrounder: The Fine Print of China’s No-Coal Pledge
In 2021, China’s President Xi Jinping announced that China would stop funding and building coal-fired power plants overseas. After the announcement, Chinese companies canceled about forty coal power projects. However, a similar number are still in limbo. If built, they would produce 245 ...
Chinese Company Expands Footprint in South Africa’s Energy Sector With New Solar Project
One of China’s biggest companies, the Fortune 500-listed PowerChina, is establishing itself among energy sector players seeking to offer solutions to the crippling blackouts predicted to last until 2027 in South Africa. The country is seeking to transition to ...