Prospects for Hard Coal in Europe

This is an assessment of both the prospects for hard coal production and the prospects for coal use in Europe.

The book questions the possibility of a terminal decline for European coal production, and addresses environmental concerns as well as how the politics and economics of coal interact. It reviews the recent history of coal production and use, its political and industrial importance, and growing influences, including competition policies and the "dash for gas" - the increased use of natural gas as a clean, efficient source of power for electricity production. Policy responses of various countries to hard-coal production are discussed, and the driving forces and scenarios for future coal use are presented.