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 the Former Soviet Union.

Further a brief summary is given of the geographical distribution of the known coal deposits in the Former Soviet Union along with a regional commentary of the coal types/ranks available.

2.   Reserves and production data

The estimated national proven reserves of coal in the Former Soviet Union at the end of 2001 are presented in Table 1.

Table 2 shows the overall national production data in 2001 for the Former Soviet Union and the number of year of reserves available if this production rate were maintained.

Table 1: Proven national coal reserves in the Former Soviet Union 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.

Table 2: Total national coal production in the Former Soviet Union 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 the Former Soviet Union

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.

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.

The Former Soviet Union is the third largest coal producer in the world. It has reserves of coals of all ranks stretching across the whole area. Thick coal bearing sequences range from Palaeozoic (Carboniferous-Permian), Mesozoic (Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous to Cenozoic in age.

The principal bituminous coal areas are in the basins of Donetsk, Kuznetsk, Karaganda, Perchora, Kansk-Achinsk and South Yakutsk.

Principal Lignite areas are found in Ekibastuz, Maikuben, Moscow and Kansk-Achinsk.

The Donetsk basin in the east and the Kismets basin located centrally contain anthracite and low volatile bituminous coals.

The Karaganda basin in the southwest contains anthracite and high volatile bituminous coals.

The Former Soviet Union has numerous other deposits of both black and lignite coals. Even though the potential for production is enormous the geographical location and often-severe climatic conditions make exploitation of these deposits impractical.

3.1   Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan is the third largest coal producer in the former Soviet Union after the Russian Federation and the Ukraine. The main production areas are the Karaganda and Ekibastuz coalfields.

Kazakhstan exports large quantities of coal to the Russian Federation and the Ukraine. The main production areas are, Karaganda, Ekibastuz and Maikuben; the latter two produces mainly lignite.

The Karanganda coalfields produces high-volatile bituminous coals. The coal deposits are thick and in terms of age range from Palaeozoic (Carboniferous-Permian), Mesozoic (Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous) through to Cenozoic.

Of the deposits in the Karangada area, the main coalfields are located at Karagandinskya and Dolinskayaka and are mainly Carboniferous and Jurassic in terms of age. Some of these coalfields contain seams up to 110m in thickness. Kazakhstan also has vast reserves of oil shale, which has yet to be fully exploited.

3.2   Russian Federation

The Russian Federation was the leading coal producer in the former Soviet Union and still retains this position in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).

In terms of age, coals range from Palaeozoic (Carboniferous-Permian), Mesozoic (Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous) as found in Kazakhstan.  Large deposits exist in Eastern Siberia but remain relatively unexploited due to climatic conditions.

Generally, the coal deposits become younger from west to east of the area. The Donetsk basin, in the west contains large deposits of anthracite and low-volatile bituminous coal of variable ash content (the Donetsk area extends into the Ukraine).

The Kuznetsk basin, in central CIS, the coal deposits, contains anthracite and low-volatile bituminous coal’s also with variable ash content.

The Pechora basin which is located northeast of Moscow within the Artic Circle contains high ash high-volatile bituminous coals.

In the Yakutsk area in the far south-east, in the Asiatic part of the CIS, high-volatile bituminous coals with high ash content are found with the principle coal mining area being that of Neryungri.

The Moscow basin produces sub-bituminous coal with high ash content and mining conditions are very difficult in this area.

Large reserves of lignite are found in the Lena basin in the far east.

The CIS has an enormous potential to produce vast amounts of good quality coal for the world market but due to it’s geographical location, and in many areas, climatic conditions, the full potential of these reserves may not be realised for some time.

3.3   Ukraine

Coal provides nearly half of Ukraine’s domestic energy. The Donetsk basin contains large reserves of anthracite and high, low and medium volatile bituminous coal.

The Dnieper basin contains enormous reserves of lignite.

High-volatile bituminous coal also occurs in the Lviv-Volyn basin in the far west. The black coals are of Carboniferous age whereas the lignite is Tertiary.

Ukraine’s coal industry suffers from a poor safety record, shortage of equipment and huge debts. Despite Ukraine’s vast coal reserves the country still relies heavily on imports.

3.4   Further national/regional information

Other world regions – the Americas, Europe, Africa and the Middle East and the Asia Pacific Region are dealt with separately in Combustion Files 192, 193, 194 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

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