Coal-mining region

Coal mining regions are significant resource extraction industries in many parts of the world. They provide a large amount of the fossil fuel energy in the world economy.

The People's Republic of China is the largest producer of coal in the world, while Australia is the largest coal exporter.^[1] Countries with the largest proven black coal reserves are the United States (250.2 billion tonnes), Russia (160.3 billion tonnes), Australia (147.4 billion tonnes), China (138.8 billion tonnes) and India (101.3 billion tonnes).^[2]

A coal-mining region is a region in which

Africa

South Africa

In

China is currently the world's largest coal miner, and it is also the largest consumer of coal in the world.^[4] China’s coal output has continued to increase and its production capacity has expanded at an unprecedented rate, with an annual increase in production of 200 million tonnes on average. In 2012, the total output of coal reached 3.66 billion tonnes. However, based on China’s existing coal mining technologies, this level of output greatly exceeds the sustainable coal production capacity in terms of resources, the environment, and safety. Behind this huge production statistic are excessive waste of coal resources, a large number of casualties among workers, and serious damage to water resources and the environment. These problems are the basis of resistance for the continued development of China’s coal industry.

India

India has some of the largest reserves of coal in the world (approx. 267 billion tonnes).^[5] The energy derived from coal in India is about twice that of energy derived from oil, whereas worldwide, energy derived from coal is about 30% less than energy derived from oil.

The top producing states are:

• Chhattisgarh
• Orissa - see Talcher in Angul district
• Jharkhand

Other notable coal-mining areas include:

Mongolia

Mongolia has proven reserves of 12.2 billion tons of coal including 2 billion tons of coking coal and 10.1 billion tons of thermal coal.^[6] Mongolia is estimated to have potential coal reserves of some 100 billion metric tonnes.^[7][8] While Mongolia's output is approximately only 5 million tonnes of coal per year, it will grow significantly given its proximity to China.^[9]

Russia

Europe

Belgium

The

. It is also known as the "Sambre and Meuse valley", or the "Haine-Sambre-Meuse-Vesdre valley", or the "dorsale wallonne."

Bosnia and Herzegovina

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The major coal mining basins in Bosnia and Herzegovina are the Tuzla Basin with the Kreka and Đurđevik mines and the Zenica Basin with the adjacent Kakanj, Novi Travnik and Gračanica. There are also substantial reserves of coal in Sanski Most, Ugljevik, Gacko and Stanari.

France

Nord-Pas de Calais Mining Basin, Loire coal mining basin and Saar-Warndt coal mining basin were the major coal-mining regions.

Germany

The

Germany's last operating black coal mine, Prosper-Haniel, closed on December 21, 2018,[14] leaving only lignites mines in operation, such as the Hambach surface mine.

Netherlands

Poland

Silesia in Poland and Czech Republic has more working coal miners than the rest of the European Union combined.

Romania

The Jiu Valley is a coal-mining region.

Serbia

Kolubara and Kostolac are coal mining regions. The REMBAS region near the

Spain

There are large coal

Britain had major coal-mining activity in the past, but since the 1980s coal mining has been in decline due to the increased use of natural gas in power stations and cheaper imports. Very few working coal mines and open-cast quarries now exist in Britain.

England

The

Canada holds 78 billion tonnes of coal, primarily bituminous and sub-bituminous, though Saskatchewan holds significant reserves of lignite coal. The Elk Valley, located in the southeast corner of British Columbia, is host to one of the world's largest deposits of hard coking coal. Five mines are operated by the Teck mining company in this area.^[15]

United States

Coal mining in the United States has historically had economic and cultural dominance in regions such as the Allegheny Mountains and Appalachian Mountains, where it was a major part of identity and traditions. The replacement of workers by mechanization has had major consequences for the industry and for the people it affects.

Coal is mined in the Appalachian Mountains region, and the Midwest. Most coal now produced in the United States is mined in western surface mines, especially in Wyoming's Powder River Basin.^[16] A surface mining method often used in the Appalachians is mountaintop removal mining.

The states with the largest recoverable coal reserves are, in descending order, Wyoming, West Virginia, Illinois, and Montana.^[17] The largest single mine in the United States is the North Antelope Rochelle Mine near Gillette, Wyoming; it produces more coal annually than many states. In 2009, it alone produced over 100 million tons of coal, and has plans to produce 130 million ton in 2012 more than 23 other coal producing states including Pennsylvania.^[18]

Areas with significant coal mining activities include:

• Coal Region of Pennsylvania - Boasting the largest known deposits of anthracite coal in the world, this region is in Northeastern Pennsylvania, in the central Appalachian Mountains comprising Lackawanna, Luzerne, Columbia, Carbon, Schuylkill, Northumberland, and the extreme northeast corner of Dauphin counties. Major population centers include Scranton, Wilkes-Barre, and Pottsville
• West Virginia - see economy of West Virginia
• Western Coal Fields of Kentucky
• Southern Illinois Coal Fields, including the Harrisburg Coal Field
• Colorado - including Denver Basin. - (see Coal mining in Colorado)
• Powder River Basin - (see Coal mining in Wyoming)
• Raton Basin

Oceania

Australia

• Company town
• History of coal mining
• List of coalfields
• Trade union
• Upper Silesian Coal Basin

References

External links

• US Department of Energy estimates of worldwide reserves of coal
• Biggest coal reserves by country