The primary fuel at the beginning of the last century, coal is a critical fuel throughout this current century. It remains a mainstay of the world's power generation and steel-making processes, and underpins our capacity to tackle poverty. With enormous advantages - abundance, affordability, accessibility - coal currently carries with it an environmental burden. The industry recognises this and is supporting the technological revolution that will enable coal to continue to contribute to meeting society's energy needs in a manner which is far more environmentally acceptable. Policy makers need to recognise the potential in this and to ensure that in planning for a carbon constrained future, they do not prejudice long term options by imposing outdated preconceptions on any fuel. While other fossil fuel reserves decline rapidly, the achievement of greater combustion efficiencies in coal-fired plant, the application of CCS technologies and its role as primary feedstock in the production of hydrogen, will position coal as the fuel of the future. Hephaestus was steady and unassuming. in his subterranean cave he created all of the palaces of the Olympian gods. But the gods exiled him for his physical deformity. In the 21~(st) century, the coal industry is demonstrating it can overcome its environmental challenges, and that its contribution far outweighs its diminishing costs. In so doing, coal will avoid the fate of Hephaestus.
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