The Canadian coal industry plays an important role in the Canadian economy, both as a mining industry and as an energy provider. According to the 2008 BP Statistical Energy Survey, Canada had 2007 coal production of 69.36 million tonnes, 1.17% of the world total, while consuming 30.42 million tonnes oil equivalent. Close to one half of Canada’s coal production is exported, primarily as metallurgical coal.
Canada is a major coal producer and consumer, with, according to the 2008 BP Statistical Energy Survey, end 2007 coal reserves of 6578 million tonnes. Currently over half of Canada’s coal production is bituminous, with sub bituminous and lignite the rest. Nearly 90% of Canada’s coal consumption is used for power generation, with the remainder used in steelmaking. Coal only provides 10% of Canada’s energy requirements.
The main coal producing regions are in Alberta (nearly 50%), British Colombia and Saskatchewan. Minor coal is produced along the east coast provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.
Elk Valley Coal (jointly owned by TeckCominco and the Fording Canadian Coal Trust) operates six open-pit, truck and shovel mines. These are the largest open-pit steelmaking coal mines in the northern hemisphere. The Coal Mountain, Elkview, Fording River, Greenhills, and Line Creek mines are located in south-eastern British Columbia, and Cardinal River is located in west-central Alberta.
