The energy landscape of the Middle East has undergone a significant transformation in recent years and whilst the transition has uncertain outcomes, one beneficiary might be coal
Following attempts by many large coal-consuming countries to substitute the burning of coal with natural gas, global consumption of coal has begun to fall after a long period in which it steadily increased. Gas production has been rising in order to cater for this trend; but in a number of cases there is insufficient supply to meet the increase in demand. Countries that had once planned to cover the growth in demand for electricity with gas fired power stations are having to rethink their strategy.
Somewhat surprisingly, some of these countries are in regions noted for their large reserves of gas. Some of the strongest growth in coal consumption over the next five years could occur in parts of the Middle East and North Africa.
