Present levels of utilization of coal. 



World (1966 production) 2.8 billion metric tons, all ranks 



(2. 1 biUion tons bituminous coal 

 and anthracite; 700,000 tons lignite) 



Metric tons 



441.1 

 484.3 



438.5 

 498.0 



Range of demand projections to the year 2000. 



Area 1980 1985 2000 



United States (million short tons) 



for U.S. consumption' 737* 825-850' 1,095-1,150' 



World 3 billion metric tons annually by 1985 



(3.3 billion short tons) 



Prospective supplies and prices. U.S. coal reserves are more than adequate to supply all foreseeable 

 demands to and beyond the year 2000, although until the development of economic processes for the 

 reduction of sulfur in coal and the removal of sulfur oxides from stack gases low-sulfur coal will be 

 in relatively tight supply, although generally adequate. 



World reserves of coal are estimated at 4,600 billion metric tons, of which approximately 32 per cent 

 are in the United States and 26 per cent in the U.S.S.R. Most of the remaining 42 per cent are in Europe 

 and Asia. On a world-wide basis they are adequate to meet anticipated total requirements far beyond the 

 year 2000. 



No information is available on prospective future coal prices either for the world or for the United 

 States. Prices f.o.b. bituminous coal and lignite mines in the United States have remained relatively 

 stable during the past decade ($4.77, $4.58, $4.39, $4.44, and estimated $4.77 in 1959, 1961, 1963, 

 1965, and 1967, respectively) notwithstanding significant increases in the costs of labor, equipment, 

 suppUes, and other cost components. Average transportation costs have declined significantly during the 

 past few years as a result of the introduction and increasing adoption of the unit train concept. As a result 

 of increasing competitive pressures from other energy sources and continuing increases in efficiencies of" 

 mining and transportation, it is estimated that delivered coal prices generally will stabilize at or near 

 current levels for the respective quaUties of coal and that they will continue at the same relative 

 competitive levels with other energy sources. 



Possible substitute materials. Natural gas, petroleum, and atomic energy are competitive with coal as 

 sources of energy. 



Excludes exports and coal for the production of high BTU gas and synthetic liquid fuels from coal when these 

 processes have been developed competitively. 



Includes approximately 550 million tons for electric utUities; excludes exports. 



Although no official estimates have been made beyond 1980, it is anticipated that coal requirements for power 

 generation will continue steadily upward by 18-20 million tons per year to at least the year 2000, but that the demand 

 for other U.S. consumption combined will stabiUze at something near the current levels (185-200 miUion tons 

 annually). If these estimates hold, requirements will range as shown. 



VIl-132 



