Energy in the 1980s - World coal resources and their future potential

Abstract

Despite the uncertainties which arise from drawing inferences from the published figures of world coal resources which are based on a variety of assessment procedures, there can be no doubt that coal is the world’s most abundant fossil fuel, with total reserves of the order of 9 x 1012 tonnes. Industry, however, can only be interested in those reserves which are exploitable now or seem likely to be in the future. As time passes, the proportion of recoverable reserves varies and is controlled by advances in technology, changes in the economic circumstances and the level of exploration. There is a continuing need to balance reserve availability and productive capacity against present and future demand. The locating of economically recoverable coal reserves takes time, and so does the build-up of the necessary market requirements (e.g. construction of new power stations). When there is a need to increase or replace productive capacity, it is important to plan well in advance in the exploration, production and marketing phases. . . Timely investment in world coal exploration and productive capacity appears essential in view ot possible shortages of other fuels.