The global coal situation is worrisome both short term for the atmosphere and long term for those not pursuing alternatives. India needs to import higher grade coking coal and China is hinting at looming shortages. It's interesting that South Africa is bringing coal plant out of retirement as was done after the gas pipeline explosion in Western Australia. De-mothballing old coal plant may be cheaper and safer politically than building new plant, albeit lower emitting. Those newer plants that may get approved include supercritical steam, dried lignite and combined cycle coal gasification; the trick seems to be to assure gullible politicians they are 'capture ready'.

I'm not that confident that UCG is a winner as opposed to coal seam methane. The CO2 rich gas has low heating value and there are problems with groundwater and leakage. It seems highly unlikely that the CO2 could be economically scrubbed, cooled and re-injected into a different part of the same coal basin.

I recall a recent mention of carbon taxes in South Africa. While both US Presidential candidates and the Australian government are committed to cap-and-trade in practice I think existing coal users will get off lightly. The tough talk may put off coal-to-liquids projects in which Sasol seems to be a key technical advisor. Putting it all together on a global scale I think we will make excuses for increased coal burning for another decade then the real crisis will begin.