21世紀的能源供應比以往任何時候都受到煤炭的影響。幾乎所有的發(fā)展中國家和新興國家都相信煤炭是經濟和社會發(fā)展的長期、可靠的基礎。在工業(yè)化國家，煤炭仍然是可靠供電和重工業(yè)的關鍵能源。根據國際能源署（IEA）的估計，到2030年，煤炭在全球能源供應中將與石油同等重要。

The energy supply of the 21st century is more than ever shaped by coal. Almost all developing and threshold countries trust that coal is a long- term, reliable basis for the development of the economy and society. In industrialised countries, coal remains the key energy for a reliable supply of electricity and for heavy industries. According to estimates of the International Energy Agency (IEA), coal will have the same importance as oil for the world-wide supply of energy until 2030.