Advanced countries also use advanced technologies in coal processing, including the use of advanced technologies for crushing, washing, drilling and rolling coal to optimize production processes and improve the quality of the final product
The geographical and geological history of any country can have a great impact on its mineral reserves. Geological processes such as Coal accumulation through continental plate tectonics, volcanic endogenesis and sedimentation over time lead to the formation of mineral deposits. Therefore, countries with the right geological history and the right natural processes will have the most reserves. Countries with high power and ability in the mining industry will usually have the largest mineral reserves. Capability in extracting, processing and developing mines can enable these countries to exploit and be more productive from their mineral reserves.
Advanced technology and proper infrastructure can help countries in better exploitation and productivity of mineral reserves. This includes advanced mining and processing technology, modern mining equipment, development of transportation networks, support industries and energy infrastructure. Mining policies and laws of countries can have a great impact on the development and exploitation of mineral reserves. Organizing laws, creating mineral development facilities, creating suitable investment conditions and creating industrial establishments can encourage the development and exploitation of mineral reserves in countries. Some of the countries with the largest coal reserves are as follows:
- Russia is known as one of the largest holders of coal reserves in the world. The important areas of coal deposits in Russia include the Siberian and Ural regions.
- The United States has significant coal reserves, particularly in the states of Virginia, Illinois, West Virginia, Kentucky, and Pennsylvania.
- Australia also has significant reserves of coal. Notable states include Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria.
- China is not only the largest consumer of coal in the world, but also has significant reserves, especially in the provinces of Shanxi and Hubei.
- India is also known as one of the largest holders of coal reserves in the world. The states of Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Orissa are among the important areas of coal deposits in India.
Advanced countries also use advanced technologies in coal processing, including the use of advanced technologies for crushing, washing, drilling and rolling coal to optimize production processes and improve the quality of the final product. Grid miners or continuous miners are machines that continuously remove coal from the edges of the mine. This method provides faster performance and more efficiency than traditional mining methods. In this method, the coal in the ground is directly converted and converted into gas on site. This method provides improvements for environmental protection and productivity of coal reserves.
In open-pit mining method, vertical or diagonal tunnels and shafts are built to access the depth of coal deposits. This method is more secure compared to surface mining and has been improved by the use of advanced technologies such as mechanized tunneling and the use of advanced machinery. In the surface mining method, coal layers are extracted directly from the surface of the earth. This method includes the use of heavy machinery such as bulldozers, cranes, loaders and shovels. Advanced techniques such as the use of 3D remote sensing models, mine modeling and the use of GPS guidance systems are also used in this method.
Russia, with the largest coal reserves in the world, normally exports a large part of its coal production. In 2020, Russia exported about 166 million tons of coal. Australia is also known as one of the largest producers and exporters of coal. In 2019, Australia exported more than 210 million tonnes of coal. Indonesia is also one of the countries with significant coal reserves. In 2019, Indonesia exported more than 450 million tons of coal. America, with significant coal resources, has a reliable export in this field. In 2020, the US exported about 37 million tons of coal. Canada is also one of the important producers and exporters of coal. In 2019, Canada exported more than 34 million tons of coal.