The global energy crisis has created both opportunities and challenges for the coal industry and the future depends on the industry’s response. Patriot Coal’s CEO, Richard Whiting, speaking to the WV State Chamber of Commerce’s Business Summit at The Greenbrier, said the world currently uses 6.6 billion tons of coal each year, with the US alone accounting for 1 billion tons. Whiting said he expects the total to rise to 8 billion tons – a 19 percent increase – within just a few years as the demand from rapidly growing nations of China and India continues to grow. Right now, Patriot’s exports to China and India account for 15 percent of its total sales.
September 3, 2008: The global energy crisis has created both opportunities and challenges for the coal industry and the future depends on the industry’s response. Patriot Coal’s CEO, Richard Whiting, speaking to the WV State Chamber of Commerce’s Business Summit at The Greenbrier, said the world currently uses 6.6 billion tons of coal each year, with the US alone accounting for 1 billion tons. Whiting said he expects the total to rise to 8 billion tons – a 19 percent increase – within just a few years as the demand from rapidly growing nations of China and India continues to grow. Right now, Patriot’s exports to China and India account for 15 percent of its total sales.
