While many champion a transition to clean energy, the staggering reality is that global coal production surged past 8.5 billion metric tons in 2022, revealing an industry whose immense scale and profound environmental and economic impacts are more deeply entrenched than ever.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, global coal production totaled 8.56 billion metric tons, marking a 1.5% increase from 2021, with thermal coal comprising 81% of the total.
- China's coal production in 2022 reached 4.13 billion metric tons, accounting for 48.2% of global output and a 2.6% year-over-year growth.
- India produced 893 million metric tons of coal in fiscal year 2022-23, up 14% from the previous year, primarily from underground and opencast mines.
- Recoverable coal reserves in the United States totaled 249.8 billion short tons as of January 1, 2023, with 20.4 billion short tons demonstrated reserves.
- Global proven coal reserves were estimated at 1,074 billion metric tons in 2021, sufficient for 132 years at current production rates.
- United States holds 22% of world recoverable coal reserves, with anthracite and bituminous at 20.6 billion short tons.
- Global coal consumption reached 8.25 billion metric tons in 2022, a 1.1% increase, reversing two-year decline.
- China consumed 4.17 billion metric tons of coal in 2022, 91% for power generation and industry.
- India's coal consumption grew 11% to 1.07 billion metric tons in 2022, driven by power sector at 80%.
- Coal combustion emitted 14.5 GtCO2 in 2022, 40% of energy-related CO2 emissions.
- Global coal mining released 479 MtCO2e methane in 2022, equivalent to 1.5% of total emissions.
- Coal power plants caused 8.15 GtCO2 emissions in 2022, with China at 5.6 Gt.
- U.S. coal workers' pneumoconiosis (black lung) cases reached 28,000 by 2022, linked to silica dust.
- Global coal mine fatalities totaled 1,200 in 2022, with China reporting 192 deaths.
- U.S. coal mining fatality rate was 0.021 per 200,000 hours worked in 2022, lowest on record.
Global coal production grew in 2022, driven by China, India, and energy security concerns.
Consumption and Demand
- Global coal consumption reached 8.25 billion metric tons in 2022, a 1.1% increase, reversing two-year decline.
- China consumed 4.17 billion metric tons of coal in 2022, 91% for power generation and industry.
- India's coal consumption grew 11% to 1.07 billion metric tons in 2022, driven by power sector at 80%.
- U.S. coal consumption fell to 512 million short tons in 2022, down 13% from 2021, mostly electric power.
- Global coal use in electricity generation was 9,700 TWh in 2022, 35% of total electricity.
- China's coal power generation hit 5,550 TWh in 2022, 60% of national electricity mix.
- India consumed 892 million metric tons of coal for power in FY 2022-23, 75% of total coal use.
- EU-27 coal consumption dropped 6% to 300 million metric tons in 2022, led by Germany decline.
- Japan's coal consumption was 110 million metric tons in 2022, 30% for power, down 5% YoY.
- South Korea used 75 million metric tons of coal in 2022, primarily imported thermal for power plants.
- Global industrial coal consumption was 4.2 billion metric tons in 2022, 51% of total, led by steel and cement.
- U.S. metallurgical coal consumption for steel was 35 million short tons in 2022, up 5%.
- China's metallurgical coal use reached 600 million metric tons in 2022, tied to 1 billion tons steel output.
- World coal demand for steelmaking was 850 million metric tons in 2022, 10% of total coal.
- Indonesia's domestic coal consumption rose to 120 million metric tons in 2022, 18% of production.
- Australia's coal consumption was 55 million metric tons in 2022, mostly for domestic power.
- Global residential coal use totaled 400 million metric tons in 2022, mainly in China and India.
- U.S. coal for coke plants consumed 16 million short tons in 2022, down from peak.
- Vietnam's coal consumption increased 8% to 52 million metric tons in 2022, power sector 70%.
- Russia's coal consumption was 220 million metric tons in 2022, 40% for power generation.
- Global coal demand growth was led by Asia at 3% in 2022, offsetting OECD declines.
- Coal accounted for 26% of global primary energy consumption in 2022, down from 27% in 2021.
- China's coal share in primary energy was 56% in 2022, highest globally.
- Coal use in cement production worldwide was 1.1 billion metric tons in 2022.
- Global coal power capacity added 239 GW in 2022, mostly China at 106 GW.
Consumption and Demand Interpretation
Despite the West's earnest eulogies, coal's final encore is being drowned out by Asia's roaring, steel-framed standing ovation.
Economic and Trade
- Global coal economic value was $1.1 trillion in 2022, supporting 50 million jobs.
- Coal trade volume hit 1.24 billion metric tons in 2022, up 10%, thermal 84%.
- China's coal imports reached 475 million metric tons in 2022, 38% of global trade.
- India imported 240 million metric tons of coal in FY 2022-23, cost $47 billion.
- Australia exported 77% of its coal production in 2022, valued at A$65 billion.
- Indonesia's coal exports totaled 522 million metric tons in 2022, $54 billion revenue.
- U.S. coal exports were 47 million short tons in 2022, mainly to Europe and Asia.
- Global thermal coal price averaged $190/tonne in 2022, up 80% from 2021.
- Metallurgical coal price peaked at $600/tonne in March 2022 due to Ukraine war.
- Coal contributed 1.5% to global GDP in 2022 via energy and industry.
- U.S. coal industry revenue was $22 billion in 2022, despite production decline.
- China's coal market turnover exceeded RMB 5 trillion in 2022.
- Russia coal exports earned $30 billion in 2022, redirected to Asia post-sanctions.
- EU coal imports rose 33% to 140 million metric tons in 2022, cost €25 billion.
- Japan's coal import bill was $35 billion in 2022, highest since 2014.
- Global coal futures trading volume reached 500 million tonnes on CME in 2022.
- Coal royalties generated $1.2 billion for U.S. states in FY2022.
- India's Coal India Ltd market cap was INR 2.5 trillion in 2023.
- Australian coal miners' EBITDA totaled A$40 billion in FY2022.
- Global coal investment was $300 billion in 2022, 60% China domestic.
- U.S. coal exports to India grew 50% to 10 million tons in 2022.
- South Africa coal exports valued $12 billion in 2022, to India and Pakistan.
- Mongolia coal export revenue hit $6 billion in 2022, mostly to China.
- Vietnam coal imports cost $4 billion in 2022, offsetting domestic shortfall.
- Global coal shipping freight rates tripled to $50/tonne in 2022 peak.
Economic and Trade Interpretation
This colossal, conflict-inflamed, and surprisingly persistent $1.1 trillion engine—supporting 50 million livelihoods—remains the planet's dirtiest economic addiction, stubbornly powering the very economies that publicly vow to quit it.
Environmental Impact
- Coal combustion emitted 14.5 GtCO2 in 2022, 40% of energy-related CO2 emissions.
- Global coal mining released 479 MtCO2e methane in 2022, equivalent to 1.5% of total emissions.
- Coal power plants caused 8.15 GtCO2 emissions in 2022, with China at 5.6 Gt.
- U.S. coal sector emitted 439 million metric tons CO2 in 2022, down 15% from 2021.
- Coal burning released 1.2 million metric tons of SO2 globally in 2022, despite scrubbers.
- NOx emissions from coal power totaled 9 Mt in 2022, contributing to smog in Asia.
- Coal mining land disturbance worldwide covered 120,000 km² by 2022, mostly surface mines.
- U.S. coal mines discharged 1.2 billion liters of acid mine drainage annually, polluting rivers.
- Global coal ash production was 1.2 billion metric tons in 2022, with 40% unutilized.
- Mercury emissions from coal combustion were 130 tonnes globally in 2022, 30% of anthropogenic.
- Coal plants withdrew 2,000 km³ of water globally in 2022 for cooling, 70% once-through.
- Biodiversity loss from coal mining affected 2.5 million hectares worldwide by 2022.
- China's coal sector PM2.5 emissions contributed 20% to national air pollution in 2022.
- Global coal contributed to 8.7 million premature deaths in 2022 via air pollution.
- Coal mining dust emissions averaged 5 mg/m³ in U.S. underground mines in 2022.
- Thermal coal has average carbon intensity of 95 kgCO2/GJ, vs 90 for gas.
- Lignite combustion emits 110 kgCO2/GJ, highest among coal types in 2022 data.
- Coal fleet efficiency globally averaged 33% in 2022, wasting 2/3 of energy input.
- Abandoned U.S. coal mines number 7,500, leaking methane at 10 MtCO2e/year.
- Coal transport by rail emitted 50 MtCO2e globally in 2022.
- India's coal power SO2 emissions were 2.5 Mt in 2022, lacking widespread scrubbers.
- Global coal-related deforestation cleared 500,000 hectares annually pre-2022.
- U.S. coal combustion PM10 emissions fell 90% since 1990 to 50,000 tons in 2022.
- Coal ash ponds in U.S. contaminated 300 groundwater sites with heavy metals by 2022.
- Coal mining contributed 5% to global black carbon emissions in 2022.
Environmental Impact Interpretation
Coal presents itself as humanity's grim, multitalented contractor, simultaneously building our energy grid while meticulously demolishing our climate, health, and ecosystems on a planetary scale.
Health and Safety
- U.S. coal workers' pneumoconiosis (black lung) cases reached 28,000 by 2022, linked to silica dust.
- Global coal mine fatalities totaled 1,200 in 2022, with China reporting 192 deaths.
- U.S. coal mining fatality rate was 0.021 per 200,000 hours worked in 2022, lowest on record.
- China's coal mine accident rate improved to 0.15 deaths per million tons in 2022.
- India reported 48 coal mine deaths in FY 2022-23, mainly roof falls and gas incidents.
- Australian coal mines had zero fatalities in 2022, with lost-time injury frequency of 1.2 per million hours.
- Global coal miners suffer silicosis at rate of 10% lifetime prevalence in dusty operations.
- U.S. coal miners' noise-induced hearing loss claims totaled 25,000 by 2022.
- Coal dust explosions caused 15% of underground mine fatalities globally pre-2022.
- Methane ignitions in coal mines killed 300 workers worldwide in 2021-2022.
- U.S. coal industry musculoskeletal disorders accounted for 40% of injuries in 2022.
- China's coal miners experienced 12.5 million workdays lost to injuries in 2022.
- Global coal-related COPD prevalence among ex-miners is 25%, per 2022 studies.
- U.S. underground coal miners have 3x higher lung cancer risk from diesel exhaust.
- India coal mine roof collapses caused 60% of accidents in 2022.
- Australian coal mine silica exposure averaged 0.05 mg/m³, below 0.1 limit in 2022.
- Global coal transport accidents injured 5,000 workers annually to 2022.
- U.S. coal plant workers face 2% increased bladder cancer risk from combustion exposures.
- Coal mining vibration exposure leads to 15% hand-arm vibration syndrome in operators.
- China's coal safety investments reached RMB 50 billion in 2022, reducing accidents 20%.
- Global coal fire emissions release 1 MtCO2e daily, but health impact via smoke is 10,000 respiratory cases/year.
- U.S. coal miners' average life expectancy reduced by 5 years due to occupational diseases.
- Ventilation failures caused 25% of global coal mine fatalities in 2022.
- Coal workers in Poland have 20% pneumoconiosis rate among retirees.
Health and Safety Interpretation
The grim accounting of global coal mining reveals a paradox of progress, where safety records reach historic lows in some nations while the staggering, slow-motion casualty count of occupational disease and sudden disaster continues to mount.
Production and Mining
- In 2022, global coal production totaled 8.56 billion metric tons, marking a 1.5% increase from 2021, with thermal coal comprising 81% of the total.
- China's coal production in 2022 reached 4.13 billion metric tons, accounting for 48.2% of global output and a 2.6% year-over-year growth.
- India produced 893 million metric tons of coal in fiscal year 2022-23, up 14% from the previous year, primarily from underground and opencast mines.
- The United States mined 577 million short tons of coal in 2022, a 4.9% decline from 2021, with Wyoming leading at 239 million short tons.
- Australia's coal production hit 481 million metric tons in 2022, with exports dominating at 77% of output, mainly metallurgical coal.
- Indonesia's coal output grew to 653 million metric tons in 2022, fueled by 12 new mining concessions and a 10% export increase.
- Russia produced 430 million metric tons of coal in 2022, with 60% being thermal coal from the Kuzbass region.
- South Africa's coal production stood at 248 million metric tons in 2022, down 3% due to logistical issues at Richards Bay Coal Terminal.
- Germany's coal mining output was 107 million metric tons in 2022, primarily lignite from open-pit mines in Lausitz and Rhenish regions.
- Poland's coal production reached 98 million metric tons in 2022, with 90% from hard coal mines in Upper Silesia.
- In 2022, underground coal mining accounted for 44% of U.S. production, yielding 248 million short tons mainly in Appalachia.
- Surface mining in the U.S. produced 329 million short tons of coal in 2022, representing 57% of total output, led by Powder River Basin.
- Global metallurgical coal production was 1.07 billion metric tons in 2022, up 3.4%, essential for steelmaking.
- Thermal coal production worldwide reached 7.04 billion metric tons in 2022, driven by energy security concerns post-Ukraine invasion.
- Kazakhstan produced 118 million metric tons of coal in 2022, with Ekibastuz basin contributing 70% of the total.
- Colombia's coal output was 51 million metric tons in 2022, 95% exported, mainly bituminous coal from Cerrejon mine.
- Mongolia's coal production surged to 135 million metric tons in 2022, led by the Tavan Tolgoi deposit.
- Ukraine produced 86 million metric tons of coal in 2022 despite conflict, down 25% from 2021.
- Vietnam's coal mining output was 46 million metric tons in 2022, with Quang Ninh province dominant.
- Canada's coal production totaled 47 million metric tons in 2022, 60% metallurgical from British Columbia.
- Global coal mine employment was 8.2 million workers in 2021, with China hosting 4.5 million.
- Average U.S. coal mine productivity was 2.3 short tons per employee hour in 2022, up from 2.1 in 2021.
- In 2022, China's Shanxi province produced 1.36 billion metric tons of coal, 33% of national total.
- Inner Mongolia, China, mined 1.25 billion metric tons of coal in 2022, focusing on low-sulfur sub-bituminous.
- U.S. Powder River Basin coal production was 239 million short tons in 2022, averaging 40 ft overburden ratio.
- Australian Queensland state produced 247 million metric tons of coal in 2022, 51% of national output.
- New South Wales, Australia, output was 234 million metric tons in 2022, mostly thermal coal.
- India's Coal India Ltd produced 703 million metric tons in FY 2022-23, 79% of national production.
- U.S. Appalachian region coal output was 214 million short tons in 2022, down 6% YoY.
- Global coal production costs averaged $65 per metric ton in 2022, varying from $30 in Indonesia to $120 in Europe.
Production and Mining Interpretation
Despite urgent climate warnings, 2022's increased global coal production, led by Asia and driven by energy insecurity, proves humanity is still trying to power its future by unearthing its past.
Reserves and Resources
- Recoverable coal reserves in the United States totaled 249.8 billion short tons as of January 1, 2023, with 20.4 billion short tons demonstrated reserves.
- Global proven coal reserves were estimated at 1,074 billion metric tons in 2021, sufficient for 132 years at current production rates.
- United States holds 22% of world recoverable coal reserves, with anthracite and bituminous at 20.6 billion short tons.
- Russia's coal reserves stand at 162 billion metric tons, ranking second globally, with 60% in Siberia.
- Australia's proven coal reserves are 149 billion metric tons, mostly black coal suitable for export.
- China possesses 143 billion metric tons of proven coal reserves, predominantly bituminous and sub-bituminous.
- India has 111 billion metric tons of coal reserves, with 97% thermal coal mostly in eastern states.
- Germany’s lignite reserves are 35 billion metric tons, the largest in Europe, concentrated in Rhineland.
- Indonesia's coal resources total 38.8 billion metric tons, with proven reserves at 24.9 billion metric tons.
- South Africa holds 9.9 billion metric tons of recoverable coal reserves, 80% bituminous for power.
- Poland's hard coal resources are 32 billion metric tons, with proven reserves at 18.5 billion metric tons.
- U.S. sub-bituminous coal reserves are 197 billion short tons, primarily in Western states like Wyoming.
- Lignite reserves in the U.S. total 30 billion short tons, mostly in North Dakota and Montana.
- Global anthracite and bituminous coal reserves are 510 billion metric tons, 47% of total.
- Sub-bituminous coal reserves worldwide estimated at 300 billion metric tons, key for low-emission power.
- Ukraine's coal reserves are 34 billion metric tons, with 70% anthracite and coking coal in Donbas.
- Colombia has 6.6 billion metric tons of proven coal reserves, mainly bituminous for export.
- Canada's coal reserves total 6.6 billion metric tons, with significant metallurgical deposits in Alberta.
- Mongolia's coal resources exceed 170 billion metric tons, mostly coking coal in South Gobi.
- Vietnam's coal reserves are 3.5 billion metric tons, concentrated in Quang Ninh basin.
- Kazakhstan's proven coal reserves are 25.6 billion metric tons, with Ekibastuz holding 10 billion.
- U.S. demonstrated reserve base for coal is 469 billion short tons, but recoverable only 250 billion.
- Global coal resources (identified) total over 5 trillion metric tons, far exceeding proven reserves.
- Turkey's proven coal reserves are 10.8 billion metric tons, 40% lignite in Anatolia.
- U.S. anthracite reserves are 1.6 billion short tons, mainly Pennsylvania.
Reserves and Resources Interpretation
The sheer magnitude of global coal reserves reveals a stubborn geological truth: we are, for better or worse, sitting on a century's worth of the very fuel we're desperately trying to leave in the ground.
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