United States leads world in coal reserves

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, International Energy Statistics. Note: Latest data available for the U.S. are 2009, international data are 2008. Coal reserves are relatively stable from year to year. Download CSV Data

The United States leads the world with over 260 billion short tons of recoverable coal reserves—28% of total global reserves and 50% more than Russia, which possesses the world's second largest reserves. Despite significant U.S. coal production since the industrial revolution, recoverable domestic coal reserves at current mining levels would last 222 years.

Coal reserves are reported by coal types: bituminous and anthracite (46%), subbituminous (41%), and lignite (12%). Appalachia is the largest producer of bituminous and anthracite coal, while large quantities of subbituminous coal are produced in the Powder River Basin (covering much of Wyoming, as well as parts of Montana). Texas leads lignite production.
tags: Coal , International , Reserves , Supply , United States