A study on the Economic Evaluation Method of Coal Resources (I)

Constraint of coal resources development observed in NSW, Australia

Abstract

The world coal reserves are known having vast expanse and scattered world widely with the proved reserves of around one trillion tonnes in to-to, which engage coal production and supply for more than two hundred years. Actual mineable coal reserves are, however, considered to be minimal, due to constraint by mining depth and transportation distance. The authors have scrutinized economically mineable amount of coal under current economic and mining circumstance in NSW, Australia as a model case. By the study, relationships between railway transportation distance, mining depth and direct cost were analyzed by way of applying the exponential regression method. The results of study revealed that mining constraint and environmental impact are significant and these eventuate to reduce mineable life drastically. Thus, research on economic and technical evaluation method to detect world's recoverable coal and mine life is essential for establishment of coal strategy for sustainable coal supply.