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Survey of Energy Resources Interim Update 2009

Peat update

The world's peat resources are widespread but, owing to their comparatively shallow depth below the earth's surface, generally well-defined. There is thus little prospect of radical new discoveries or major revisions to the resource base. Moreover, the current and prospective extraction of peat, and especially the fraction destined to be consumed for energy purposes, represents a very small proportion of the overall resource. However in a few countries, most of which are in Western Europe, peat plays an important role in the energy scene.

Up-to-date information on the supply and consumption of peat for energy purposes is frequently hard to find, and consequently Table 8.1 shows data for 2006 (the latest year for which worldwide data are available), largely derived from statistics published by the IEA.

The Country Notes below relate to three major producers and consumers of energy peat.

Country Notes >