Publications

Survey of Energy Resources 2007

Coal Country Notes

Most of the republic's coal resources are classed as brown coal or lignite. Uzbek sources quote the proved (sometimes referred to as 'commercial') coal reserves as approximately 3 billion tonnes, of which 1 billion is classed as bituminous (or 'fossil') coal.

Two lignite fields are presently being developed: the Angren strip-mine in the Tashkent region and the Shargun deposit in the Surkhandarya region. Some bituminous coal is produced from the Baysun field, also in the southern region of Surkhandarya.

Reflecting a modernisation programme at Angren, Uzbekistan's lignite production has increased in recent years, exceeding 3 million tonnes in 2005. Bituminous output remains on a very small scale (around 70 000 tpa). In 2004, about 82% of lignite production was consumed in power stations and CHP/heat plants.