1.   Introduction

Initially the reader is referred to Combustion File 177 for an overview of [GLOSS]coal[/GLOSS], coal age and [GLOSS]coal rank[/GLOSS]. In Combustion File 178, an overview is given of the global proven coal reserves at the end of 2001, along with global statistics of coal production and consumption in 2001.

In this Combustion File, more detailed information is given of the national proven reserves and production in Africa and the Middle East.

Further a brief summary is given of the geographical distribution of the known coal deposits in Africa and the Middle East along with a regional commentary of the coal types/ranks available.

2.   Reserves and production data

The estimated national proven reserves of coal in Africa and the Middle East at the end of 2001 are presented in Table 1.

Table 2 shows the overall national production data in 2001 for Africa and the Middle East and the number of year of reserves available if this production rate were maintained.

Country
[all data in million tonnes]

[GLOSS]Bituminous coal[/GLOSS] and [GLOSS]Anthracite[/GLOSS]

[GLOSS]Sub-bituminous coal[/GLOSS] and [GLOSS]Lignite[/GLOSS]

Total Proven Reserves

South Africa

49 520

–

49 520

 Zimbabwe

502

–

502

Other Africa

5 149

196

5 345

Middle East

1 710

–

1 710

 Total Africa and the Middle East

56 881

196

57 077

Table 1: Proven national coal reserves in Africa and the Middle East at end of 2001
[Source: BP statistical review of world energy 2002]

Notes to Table 1
Proven reserves of coal – Generally taken to be those quantities that geological and engineering information indicates with reasonable certainty can be recovered in the future from known deposits under existing economic and operating conditions.

Country	Total Production in 2001 [million tonnes]	Reserves/Production ratio [Years] of Reserves
South Africa	224.7	220
Zimbabwe	5.0	100
Other Africa	1.9	2 813
Middle East	0.8	2 138
Total Africa and the Middle East	232	246

Table 2: Total national coal production in Africa and the Middle East in 2001
[Source: BP statistical review of world energy 2002]

Notes to Table 2
Reserves/Production (R/P) ratio – If the reserves remaining at the end of the year are divided by the production in that year, the result is the length of time that those remaining reserves would last if production were to continue at that level.

 

3    Qualitative overview of coal available nationally and regionally in Africa and the Middle East

In the following paragraphs, reserves of coal will frequently be described in terms of their geological age. In “CF177 What is coal?” the general relationship between geological age and coal rank was described in tabular form. This Table is reproduced below as an aid to reader in assessing the available coal reserve descriptions below.

ERA	PERIOD	MEAN AGE OF COAL	TYPE OF COAL FORMED
[GLOSS]Palaeozoic[/GLOSS] (Lower)	[GLOSS]Devonian[/GLOSS]	380M years	[GLOSS]Cannel coal[/GLOSS] of the Artic
Palaezoic (Upper)	[GLOSS]Carboniferous[/GLOSS]	300M years	Anthracite and Bituminous coal
	[GLOSS]Permian[/GLOSS]	245M years	Bituminous
[GLOSS]Mesozoic[/GLOSS]	[GLOSS]Triassic[/GLOSS]	200M years	Bituminous
	[GLOSS]Jurassic[/GLOSS]	160M years	Bituminous
	[GLOSS]Cretaceous[/GLOSS]	120M years	Sub-bituminous coal
[GLOSS]Cenozoic[/GLOSS]	[GLOSS]Tertiary[/GLOSS]	60-30M years	[GLOSS]Lignite[/GLOSS]
	[GLOSS]Quaternary[/GLOSS]	<1M years	[GLOSS]Peat[/GLOSS]

Table 3: Geological ages and main coal formation periods

The inclusion of Peat as a type of coal is almost universal and therefore a class of Fossil Fuel – see CF84.

Bituminous coal occurs in Africa, firstly as Carboniferous coals on the Northern Coast, in Morocco in the West and Egypt in the East.

More significantly Carboniferous-Permian coals are extensively found throughout central and Southern Africa in the Karoo sequence. The [GLOSS]Karoo sequences[/GLOSS] were deposited on the [GLOSS]Gondwana[/GLOSS] (Gondwanaland) subcontinent, which split apart in the Mesozoic Era, hence the similarities between African Gondwanaland coals and those of India and South America.

3.1   South Africa

In the Republic of South Africa, coal is found in a series of basins situated in the North and East of the Country. The coal is high volatile bituminous with generally high ash content.

The main coalfields are within the Karoo sequence and main areas include the Eastern Transvaal, Highveld, Springs/Witbank, South Rand, Utrecht, Vierfontein and Vereeniging.

Most coal is used for local power generation and liquid fuel production. These areas are also major exporters.

 

3.2   Zimbabwe

The Karoo sequence in Zimbabwe is present in the Zambezi basin in the northwest and the Limpopo basin in the southeast. The northwest includes the coalfields of Wankie and Lubimbi with Sessami-Kaonga to the east of these. These coals are medium- to high-volatile bituminous and are used principally for power generation.

In the southeast, the coalfields of Bubye and Tuli exist. Again these coals are medium- to high-volatile bituminous with variable qualities.

 

3.3   Other Africa

Angola has reserves of Lignite from the Tertiary age mainly in the Lungue-Bungo and Luanda areas.

Botswana has large reserves of bituminous coal of the Karoo Sequence. Botswana has the potential to be a significant coal producer but is disadvantaged by its geographical location.

Cameroon has deposits of Lignite from the Cretaceous-Tertiary Age inter-bedded with lava flows. These reserves are undeveloped.

Ethiopia has many deposits of Tertiary lignite and sub-bituminous coal.

Malawi contains a series of separate basins of Karol sediments the main coalfields being Livingston, Nana and Rukuru. Malawian coals range from sub-bituminous to high volatile bituminous.

Morocco has Carboniferous bituminous coal in the Northeast at Jerada and these deposits are well mined. Lignites have also been identified in the North.

Nigeria has large coal deposits of the Cretaceous and Tertiary Age and consists of coals with ranks from high volatile bituminous to lignite, mainly in the Orukpa, Okaba and Ogboyoga areas.

Zambia has Karoo deposits in the east and southeast of the country mainly in the Luano, Luangwa and Maamba areas. All coals are high-volatile bituminous with high ash content.  The Maamba region produces most of Zambia’s coal.

Zaire has Karoo sediments in the south-east of the country at Luena and Lukuga. The coals are high ash, high-volatile bituminous coals and are used locally for power generation.

Swaziland has Karoo sediments in the east. Anthracite is found in the centre of the country.

Tanzania has coalfields of Karoo sediments all located in the southwest of the country. The coalfields of Ruhuhu have been known for over a century but not fully exploited. The most important coalfields are those at Ketewaka-Mchuchma and Ngaka. Coals are high to low-volatile bituminous.

Malawi contains coals ranging from sub-bituminous to high-volatile bituminous in a series of basins ranging from the extreme north and south of the country. The main coalfields are those at Livingstonia, Ngana and North Rukuru. Coal is mined to supply coal to local industries.

Mali has Upper Cretaceous and Tertiary lignites in the Mali-Niger basin in the south and in the east around Bourem. All coals are of high ash content. Little is known about their usage.

Madagascar has high-volatile bituminous coals of Karoo sediments on the west of the island. The northernmost area is the Imaloto coalfield containing high ash medium volatile bituminous coal. The Sakoa area is the best-known area also containing high ash high-volatile bituminous coal. Similar coal is found in the Sakamena area. Large lignite deposits of the Tertiary age are known to exist in the region of Antanifotsy.

Namibia Karoo sediments are known to exist in the east; little of this coal is mined.

 

3.4    Middle East

Egypt has Carboniferous coal in the Sinai Peninsula but is not widely exploited. In the rest of the Middle East coal is not of real interest due to the availability of oil.

4.   Further national/regional information

Other world regions – the Americas, Europe, the Former Soviet Union and the Asia-Pacific Region are dealt with separately in Combustion Files 192, 193, 195 and 196 respectively.

Acknowledgements

Our acknowledgements and thanks are due to BP for the concise and clear information made openly available in their review of world energy.

Sources

BP statistical review of world energy 2002
http://www.bp.com/centres/energy2002/index.asp

Source of reserves data – World Energy Council

Walker, S. Major Coalfields of the World. IEA Coal Research, 2000, ISBN 92-9029-342-X

Thomas, L. Practical Coal Geology, John Wiley and Sons, 1992, ISBN 0-471-93557-3