Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Sources of Coal – Review of Coal as a Resource

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Economics of the International Coal Trade

  • 986 Accesses

Abstract

This chapter examines the nature and significance of coal as an energy resource. It explains how coal is formed, describes its key characteristics known reserves and resources, and how coal is distributed geographically. The author looks in detail at the major steam coal-exporting countries. He focuses particular attention on China’s significance as a fringe supplier, and more recently as an importer. There follows an examination of the supply market, detailing the key players and describing a trend toward consolidation. The operational costs involved in coal mining are also examined, and the author reveals the low investment rate in coal compared to other fossil fuels. The chapter concludes with a review of the environmental and safety issues associated with coal production.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Hotelling, Harold (1931). The Economics of Exhaustible Resources, Journal of Political Economy, 39, s162a.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kjaerstad, Jan and Filip Johnsson (2008). The Global Coal Market: Future Supply Outlook – Implications for the European Energy System, Department of Energy Conversions, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden, Pre-release paper, s175.

    Google Scholar 

  • Erdmann, Georg and Peter Zweifel (2008). Energieökonomik: Theorie und Anwendungen, Springer-Verlag, Berlin; Heidelberg, s098.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dlamini, Kuseni (2007). Richards Bay Coal Terminal: Contributing to SA’s Growth and Development, South African Coal Conference, Presentation by Executive Chairman of RBCT, Capetown, South Affrica, 30 January, 2007, s140.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wolf, Bodo and Herrmann Scheer (2005). Öl aus Sonne – Die Brennstoffformel der Erde, Bochum, Germany, 2005, s001.

    Google Scholar 

  • Steenblik, Ronald P. and Panos Coronyannakis (1995). Reform of Coal Policies in Western and Central Europe: Implications for the Environment, Energy Policy 23(6), 537–553, s171.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Adelman, Morris A. and G. Campbell Watkins (2008). Reserve Prices and Mineral Resource Theory, The Energy Journal, IEAA, Special Edition 2008, 16, s162.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kolstad, Charles D. and David S. Abbey (1983). The Effect of Market Conduct on International Steam Coal Trade, Los Alamos, USA, August 1983, European Economic Review 24 (1984), s181.

    Google Scholar 

  • Krüger, Anke (2007). Neue Kohlenstoffmaterilien. Eine Einführung, Teubner, Abschnitt 1.3.2, s214.

    Google Scholar 

  • BGR (2006). Reserven, Ressourcen und Verfügbarkeit von Energierohstoffen 2006, Bundesanstalt für Geowissenschaften und Rohstoffe (Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources), 23 November, 2007, s114.

    Google Scholar 

  • World Coal Institute-Secure Energy (2005). Coal: Secure Energy, World Coal Institute, London, First published in the UK, October 2005, s042.

    Google Scholar 

  • VDKI Annual Report (2006). Annual Report of the German Coal Importers Association (Verein der Kohlenimporteure e.V.), Hamburg, Germany, Spring 2007, s011c

    Google Scholar 

  • Latham, Michael (2008). Efficient Mine Trucking Operations, Presentation by Michael Latham, Caterpillar Indonesia, Bali Coal Conference, Bali, Indonesia, 3 June, 2008, Stream 3 “Mining Operations’, s170.

    Google Scholar 

  • McCloskey (2007). McCloskey Publishes Weekly Coal Reports, When This Sources Is Referenced, the Number and Date of the Report Will Be Noted, s147b.

    Google Scholar 

  • PESD Stanford (2009). Global Coal Market Conference, 2009 PESD Annual Winter Working Seminar, Program on Energy and Sustainable Development, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, February 2009, s215.

    Google Scholar 

  • RBCT (2008). Richards Bay Coal Terminal Website, http://www.rbct.co.za, accessed 2 April, 2008, s160.

  • Ritschel, Wolfgang and Hans-Wilhelm Schiffer (2007). World Market for Hard Coal, 2007 Edition, RWE Power, Essen/Cologne, October 2007, s152.

    Google Scholar 

  • BGR-China (2007). Commodity Top News No. 27: Die Rolle Chinas auf dem Weltsteinkohlemarkt, Sandro Schmidt, BGR Bundesanstalt für Geowissenschaften und Rohstoffe, Hannover, 8 January, 2007, s093.

    Google Scholar 

  • Buisson, Nadine (2007). Industrie Mondiale Du Carbon, Evolution des Acteurs Producteurs/ Exportateurs, Nadine Buisson, 31 May 07 “Seminar La Dynamique des Marches Charbonniers”, Dauphine University, Total, s112.

    Google Scholar 

  • Davidson, Robert (1994). Abstract of Nitrogen in Coal, IEA Paper, published in January 1994, http://www.caer.uky.edu/iea/ieaper08.shtml, Read 31 March, 2008, s159.

  • Deutsche UFG (2006). Suek Valuation Performed by Deutsche Bank based on 2005 Financial Data, published in 2006, s055.

    Google Scholar 

  • European Commission (2006). World Energy Technology Outlook – 2050: WETO-H2, Brussels, Belgium, s136.

    Google Scholar 

  • Frondel, Manuel, Rainer Kambeck and Christoph M. Schmidt (2007). Hard Coal Subsidies: A Never Ending Story? Rheinisch-Westfälisches Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung, RWI, Essen, Germany 16 Januar,y 2007, s153.

    Google Scholar 

  • Global Insight-Russia (2007). Global Insight: Analysis of the Russian Coal Market 2007, Global Insight, Inc., Boston, MA, s168.

    Google Scholar 

  • Global Insight-World (2007). Global Insight: Global Steam Coal Trade & Price Forecast (2007-2035), pre-release from Global Insight, Inc., Boston, MA, s167.

    Google Scholar 

  • IEA-Manual (2006). IEA Handbuch Energiestatistiken, IEA Publications, 9 rue de la Fédération, 75739 Paris Cedex 15, Printed In France By Stedi, January 2006, s039.

    Google Scholar 

  • IEA-Oil (2007). IEA Statistics – Oil Information 2007, International Energy Agency, Paris, s206.

    Google Scholar 

  • IEA-Statistics (2005). Key World Energy Statistics 2005, International Energy Agency, Paris, s034.

    Google Scholar 

  • IEA Clean Coal Center (2008). Web Resource http://www.coalonline.org/catalogues/coalonline/81591/6247/html/6247_27.html, accessed 31 March, 2008, s158.

  • IEA Energy Outlook (2007). World Energy Outlook 2007: China and India Insights, International Energy Agency, Paris, OECD/IEA 2007, s123.

    Google Scholar 

  • IEA World Energy Investment Outlook (2003). World Energy Investment Outlook 2003, International Energy Agency, Paris, OECD/IEA 2003, s169.

    Google Scholar 

  • Indonesian Mining Association (2006). Unternehmen Müssen in Kohlenbergbau Investieren, Indonesian Mining Association Press Article, October 2006, http://www.ima-api.com, s070.

  • Kopal, Christoph (2007). Entwicklung und Perspektiven von Angebot und Nachfrage am Steinkohlenweltmarkt, ZfE Zeitschrift für Energiewirtschaft, 2007 no. 1, s157.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. HMS Bergbau AG, Berlin, Germany

    Dr. Lars Schernikau

Authors
  1. Dr. Lars Schernikau
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2010 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Schernikau, L. (2010). Sources of Coal – Review of Coal as a Resource. In: Economics of the International Coal Trade. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-9240-3_3

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation