ABSTRACT
Coals are formed from the accumulation of vegetable debris in geologic formations ranging in age from Upper Palaeozoic to Recent. The rank of coal (peat, lignite, sub-bituminous coal, bituminous coal, semi-anthracite and anthracite, in order of increasing rank) is determined by the depth and length of burial. Thus, palaeozoic coals tend to bituminous and anthracitic, and Tertiary coals, lignitic. Fossil fuels (coal, oil and natural gas) continue to supply much of the energy used
worldwide. The world energy consumption by source in 2000, was as follows: Oil – 35%, Coal – 24%, Natural gas – 21%, Biomass waste – 11%, Nuclear – 7%,
Hydropower – 2%, Geothermal, wind and solar – less than 1%. Thus, fossil fuels account for about 80%. Coal provides about a quarter of the global energy needs, and accounts for 40%
of the world’s electricity. Some countries are highly dependent upon coal for their electricity production: Poland – 93%; South Africa – 93%; Australia – 80%; China – 78%; Israel – 71%; Kazakhstan – 70%; India – 69%; USA – 50% (Source: World Coal Institute, 2007 edition). Coal is mined in all continents, except Antarctica. Proven Coal reserves in the world
(847 billion tonnes) are expected to last 118 years, while the oil and gas reserves have life times of 41 and 63 years respectively. Also, unlike coal whose occurrence is wide-spread, about two-thirds of oil and gas deposits in the world are confined to Middle East and Russia. Countries with more than 0.1% of the global coal reserves are listed in Table 4.1.1. It may be seen that just four countries, USA, Russia, China and India, account for
about two-thirds of the coal reserves of the world.
