Faced with the rise in energy prices, aid has been granted to relieve households. This is the case for oil or gas users. However, some Belgians, like Eddy, who contacted us via the orange Alert us button, feel forgotten. This resident of Saint-Denis, in the province of Namur, still heats with coal. He, too, has to deal with the increase in the price of his heating.
Eddy is one of the 40,000 Belgians who still heat themselves with coal. This 50-year-old took over the family home, when his father was a coal delivery man: “En buying the house, I did not put the costs of putting gas or oil” he explained to us. But coal is a fuel that this refrigeration mechanic likes to heat his house, “it’s a good heat that I like that I’m used to“.
Unfortunately for him, for some time now the price of coal has also been rising. Eddy noticed a difference of “more than two euros” per bag, compared to 2017. He usually buys two pallets of bags of charcoal, they used to cost €9.99 each, today they are €12, this increase is felt on his wallet In 2017, Eddy paid 759 euros for two tons, this year he will have to pay 959 euros.
This change is all the more problematic for Eddy, as he has not been able to work for a year, due to knee surgery: “Obviously I earned a lot less, and my paid holidays will be reduced too“Eventually there won’t be any more,”it will be a budget that I will have to put in place every month, to arrive at the same 1000 euros around June“.
However, he has no choice: switching to another fuel is not an option for Eddy. “I don’t have the means to do the work to put in fuel oil, and gas either, since I have to install a cistern, and the layout of my house is not really adequate to put one in.“.
Eddy is worried today, he fears for his savings, and would like to benefit from aid, such as oil or gas consumers.
Why is the price of coal rising?
Our witness is however not the only Belgian to heat with coal. According to Olivier Neirynck, technical director of the Belgian Federation of Fuel and Fuel Dealers (BRAFCO): “There are still between 70 to 80,000 tons of annual consumption by households. This represents, with a consumption of 2 tons per year, approximately between 35,000 and 40,000 in Belgium, who still heat with coal“.
Claude, director of a coal delivery company, also witnesses the increase in its price. Among its costs are:coal, transport, truck miles, it becomes very difficult to work“. Therefore, “we find it difficult to pass on to the client, we are so embarrassed by these increases which are very high“laments Claude, “we try to make an average with the remaining stock and the new one, so that the customer can benefit from an average price, and not double.“
How to explain the increase in this fuel for which there is so little demand? “Ua small part came from Russia and Ukraine, but the vast majority came from German mines, but which have closed, so they use the remainder of the remaining stocks“explains Olivier Neirynck, but”there is still English coal which is having difficulty arriving” Indeed the shortage is combined with the rise in fuel prices: “there are supply difficulties and transport costs are higher by boat“. The cost of transport is therefore reflected in the prices for the consumer, Olivier Neirynck moderates: “The increase is clearly different from what we have known for gas, fuel oil or electricity“.
Aid planned for coal users?
Despite the number of Belgians, like Eddy, who still regularly use his coal, no aid is planned to relieve their expenses. “Coal, like kerosene, is not eligible for state aid but it is still necessary, for all reason to keep, to see the upward fluctuation of the various products, and that of coal was quite minimal. It therefore does not justify substantial State aid.“, nuance Olivier Neirynck.