Coal Transportation System Modeling: The Case of Taiwan

The world energy situation has been greatly influenced by the dramatic increase in world oil prices during the 1970s. To adjust to these increases, many countries have shifted to coal as a substitute for oil and have accelerated their research and development of renewable energy sources. Until nonconventional sources become widely available and economical, coal (along with nuclear power) will play a key role in the world's energy supply. Transportation and delivery, rather than production, pose the most difficult problems in meeting the greatly increased demand for coal.