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Coal facts and statistics

Coal’s role as a fossil fuel is likely to become increasingly important in a world in which concerns over energy security are rising and demand for energy is growing strongly. According to the World Coal Institute www.worldcoal.org, coal currently supplies 26% of the world’s primary energy and 40% of its electricity generation. Coal use is forecast to rise over 60% to 2030, with developing countries responsible for 97% of this increase, primarily to meet electrification rates.

Again according to the World Coal Institute, proven coal reserves are sufficient to sustain production at current levels for at least the next 130 years. Oil and gas reserves are around 41 and 63 years respectively.

This is what the World Coal Institute has to say:

Coal provides 26% of global primary energy needs and generates 41% of the world’s electricity.

	Total global hard coal production	Total global brown coal / lignite production
2007e	5543Mt	945Mt
2006	5205Mt	937Mt
1990	3489Mt

Brown coal production increased by 0.85% in 2007. Germany remains the world’s largest brown coal producer, with production increasing by around 2% in 2007. Brown coal production also increased in Turkey, Australia, India and Indonesia.

Reserves

Coal reserves are available in almost every country worldwide, with recoverable reserves in around 70 countries. At current production levels, proven coal reserves are estimated to last 133 years. In contrast, proven oil and gas reserves are equivalent to around 42 and 60. Over 67% of oil and 66% of gas reserves are concentrated in the Middle East and Russia.

Top 10 hard coal producers (2007e)

PR China	2 549Mt	Russia	241Mt
USA	981Mt	Indonesia	231Mt
India	452Mt	Poland	90Mt
Australia	323Mt	Kazakhstan	83Mt
South Africa	244Mt	Colombia	72Mt

Global hard coal consumption

	1990	2006	2007e
World	3 461Mt	5 164Mt	5 522Mt

Selected regional aggregate estimates

OECD Europe	14%	7%	7%
OECD North America	22%	19%	18%
OECD Pacific	6%	7%	6%
PR China	30%	45%	46%

Coal in electricity generation

Coal is the major fuel used for generating electricity worldwide – countries heavily dependent on coal for electricity include (2006e):
Poland	93%	Israel	71%*	Czech Rep	59%
South Africa	93%*	Kazakhstan	70%*	Greece	58%
Australia	80%	India	69%*	USA	50%
PR China	78%	Morocco	69%*	Germany	47%

* only 2005 figures available for these countries

Coal and steel

Approximately 13% (around 717Mt) of total hard coal production is currently used by the steel industry and almost 70% of total global steel production is dependent on coal.

International hard coal trade (Source: IEA – www.iea.org)

	Steam	Coking	Total trade
1990	299Mt	199Mt	498Mt
2000	421Mt	187Mt	608Mt
2007	670Mt	247Mt	917Mt

Development of seaborne trade (Source: SSY – www.ssyonline.com)

	Steam coal		Coking coal
	Atlantic	Pacific	Atlantic	Pacific
1986	74Mt	59Mt	61Mt	81Mt
1996	125Mt	139Mt	70Mt	103Mt
2006	240Mt	330Mt	72Mt	129Mt

Since 1986, seaborne steam coal trade has increased on average by about 7.5% p.a and seaborne coking coal trade by 1.8% p.a.

Top coal exporters (2007e)

	Steam	Coking	Total
Australia	112Mt	132Mt	244Mt
Indonesia	171Mt	31Mt	202Mt
Russia	85Mt	15Mt	100Mt
Colombia	67Mt	–	67Mt
South Africa	66Mt	1Mt	67Mt
PR China	51Mt	3Mt	54Mt
USA	24Mt	29Mt	53Mt

Top coal importers (2007e)

	Steam	Coking	Total
Japan	128Mt	54Mt	182Mt
Korea	65Mt	23Mt	88Mt
Chinese Taipei	61Mt	8Mt	69Mt
India	31Mt	23Mt	54Mt
UK	43Mt	7Mt	50Mt
PR China	42Mt	6Mt	48Mt
Germany	36Mt	10Mt	46Mt

Sources: British Petroleum , International Energy Agency , World Steel Association , Simpson Spence and Young Shipbrokers

(e = estimated) (Mt = Million tonnes)

For more information about coal, visit the World Coal Institute website - www.worldcoal.org