LONDON, March 15 (Reuters) - European coal futures for 2012 have risen more than 7 percent since an earthquake and tsunami shut some Japanese nuclear power plants on Friday, events likely to force the quake shaken country to burn more coal.
European gas prices have surged since disaster struck Japan on Friday, increasing the country's already voracious appetite for liquefied natural gas, but its coal-fired power plants are also expected to gobble up more coal.
News that Germany will shut down all seven of its nuclear power plants that began operating before 1980 at least till June because of the Japan crisis is also likely to drive up German demand for coal.
MCC Price at posting:
$10.36 Sentiment: Buy Disclosure: Held
