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Survey of Energy Resources Interim Update 2009

Coal update

Worldwide coal resources are well-established, and the revisions and amendments that are made from time to time are generally more in the nature of fine tuning than fundamental adjustments. Moreover, in most countries re-assessments of coal resources and reserves on a national basis are carried out only infrequently.

For the purposes of the present interim update of the Survey of Energy Resources (SER), the latest available estimates of proved recoverable reserves have been assembled, as far as possible on the same basis as the levels quoted in the 2007 SER. No questionnaires were sent to WEC Member Committees in this connection.

Comparing the end-2007 coal reserves compiled for this review with the end-2005 figures presented in the 2007 SER, the global total has declined by some 21 billion tonnes, or 2.5%. (Figure 1). Major changes have occurred in six countries, the largest of which are a reduction of 17.6 billion tonnes in South Africa, a decline of 4.4 billion in the USA and a 2.1 billion increase in India. The Country Notes below provide brief details of the background to the reserve situation in each of the countries concerned.

Table 1.1  provides a country-by-country listing of the world's coal proved reserves, as far as possible on a 'recoverable' basis, whilst Table 1.2  shows the 2007 level of coal production in each of the 70 producing countries. In both compilations, the analysis by rank should be taken as no more than indicative in most instances.

Country Notes >