Search

Optimization Pathways for the Thermal Coal Trade Supply Chain from an Energy Security Perspective

Author(s)

Bin Liu

Affiliation(s)

Huadian Beijing Fuel and Logistice Co., Ltd, Beijing, China

Abstract

Thermal coal has long dominated China's primary energy structure and is a key support for the stable operation of the power system and economic and social development. In the context of the "dual carbon" goal and energy transformation, the supply chain of thermal coal trade faces challenges such as international market fluctuations, geopolitical risks, and domestic supply-demand imbalances. This article focuses on supply security, price security, and strategic security from the perspective of energy security. It systematically analyzes the structural characteristics of upstream production, midstream transportation, and downstream consumption in the supply chain, as well as their coupling mechanism with energy security. Using literature review and case analysis, combined with energy data and practice, identify issues such as regional supply-demand imbalance, transportation bottlenecks, concentrated import sources, fluctuations in freight and exchange rates, and imperfect reserve systems. Propose optimization path: expand import sources and diversify trade layout, reduce external dependence; Building a multimodal transport and regional reserve network to enhance supply resilience; Applying big data, artificial intelligence, and blockchain to promote digital governance; Improve tariff and reserve mechanisms, enhance institutional safeguards; Deepen international cooperation and risk prevention and control, and enhance resilience to shocks. Research has shown that diversification, resilience, and digitization are the core directions for optimization, which have important theoretical and practical significance for improving energy security, ensuring stable supply, and promoting high-quality development.

Keywords

Energy Security; Thermal Coal; Supply Chain Optimization; Trade Supply Chain

References

[1] National Bureau of Statistics of China. Statistical Communiqué of the People’s Republic of China on the 2023 National Economic and Social Development. 2024-02-29. [2] Kao X, Liu Y, Wang W, Wen Q, Zhang P. (2024). The pressure of coal consumption on China’s carbon dioxide emissions: A spatial and temporal perspective. Atmospheric Pollution Research, 15(8): 102188 [3] An K, Zheng X, Shen J, et al. Repositioning coal power to accelerate net-zero transition of China’s power system. Nature Communications, 2025, 16(1): 2311. [4] Fan Z, Ju X, Tong H, et al. Environmental impacts of potential mining-replacing-import alternative for China in response to the China-Australia coal ban. Journal of Cleaner Production, 2024, 442: 140876. [5] Wang W, Wang C J. Spatial evolution of coal transportation of coastal ports in China. Acta Geographica Sinica, 2016, 71(10): 1752-1766. [6] Chen P R, Wang C J. The spatial evolution and its influence factors of ports’ coal transportation in Yangtze River Basin. GEOGRAPHICAL RESEARCH, 2019, 38(9): 2254-2272. https://doi.org/10.11821/dlyj020180598 [7] China Energy Transformation (CET). Coal policy revolution – Improving the linkage mechanism of China’s coal price, coal-power price and end-use electricity price,2022-05-10. [8] Liu J, Li J, Wang J, Uddin M M, Zhang B. Research on the Application of Blockchain Technology in Coal Supply Chain Finance. Sustainability. 2022, 14(16): 10099. [9] Zhang Q, Miao L, Wang C Y, et al. Research on China's Energy Security and Assurance Strategies in the New Era: From the Perspective of Promoting High-Quality Energy Cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative Finance Theory and Practice, 2021, 42(05): 116-123. [10] Guo J F, Ren S H. How to Ensure China's Energy Supply Security in the New Era. People's Forum Academic Frontiers, 2023, (19): 46-55.