A nation can maintain energy security by using coal as a strategic battery
Nations like Japan are reimagining coal-fired power plants as strategic energy buffers to protect against global supply shocks and geopolitical instability in international shipping lanes.
Energy security often relies on treating coal infrastructure as a strategic battery that can be activated when primary sources fail. Japan imports nearly 99 percent of its energy resources, with liquefied natural gas (LNG) accounting for up to 40 percent of its electricity. Because LNG relies on vulnerable routes like the Strait of Hormuz, where 20 percent of global oil passes, coal serves as a vital emergency reserve.
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