New Delhi, Dec. 18 -- Global demand for coal is expected to plateau gradually and decline around 2030 as other power sources, especially renewable energy, natural gas and nuclear take over. The largest absolute increase in coal consumption to 2030 is expected to take place in India, where demand is set to rise by 3% per year on average, leading to an overall increase of 225 million tonnes, the International Energy Agency's Coal 2025 report has said. And the fastest growth is expected in Southeast Asia, where demand is set to increase by over 4% per year by 2030, IEA added.

In contrast, the European Union and the United States register further declines of 153 Mt and 106 Mt, respectively, as phase-out policies and fuel switching accelerate...