THE MAIN TRENDS FOR INCREASING THE USE OF COAL IN THE POWER INDUSTRY

1. Expansion in the fuel base of the power industry over the next 25-30 years will mean that along with expansion in nuclear, hydroelectric and other "fuel-less" types of power, the main energy resource will be fossil fuel. 2. With sharp reductions in oil production, the stabilising of the quantities of natural gas extracted and a reduction in its resources for the power industry, and as-yet undetermined scales of expansion in the nuclear power sector, the most reliable energy source for power stations will be coal. 3. Taking into account the expected trend for resources of natural gas to be reduced, its apportionment at the present stage for the power industry (largely connected with compensation for reductions in the nuclear programme) must be regarded as a solution forced upon the power industry by the impossibility of expanding the slow-moving coal industry on the scale and at the speed required and by the state of unreadiness of ecology-friendly equipment. Therefore when new thermal power stations (and condensing power stations in particular) are being set up to use gas, this must be regarded as a temporary fuel, and provision must be made for power stations to be changed over in future to solid fuel. This kind of expansion strategy for the power industry will make it possible in the future to insure against possible reductions in the nuclear programme when natural gas resources for power stations are curtailed and to ensure that the power industry can function in a reliable manner. 4. In the new era of accountability, economic incentives are required in the power industry to expand the use of coal. This can be realised in particular by putting into place (using the method proposed) rational price ratios for individual types of fossil fuel.