Canada's coal industry hinges on domestic use

Journal Article · Wed Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1978 · World Coal; (United States)

OSTI ID:6501498

Martin, P

In the absence of immediate new sales prospects in the export market, the near-term fortunes of the Canadian coal industry will depend upon an increase in domestic coal consumption, especially of thermal coal. Accordingly, the renaissance of Canadian coal, forecast for the late 1970s, will probably not materialize until the mid-1980s. Since markets for western Canadian metallurgical coal, mostly in Japan, have huge stockpiles, there appears to be no sign of recovery in the demand for coking coal until the early 1980s. However, coal producers have had some success in diversifying their coal sales. Canada's geography helps make it both a major producer and importer of coal, since Western coals are exported while Ontario uses U.S. imports due to lower landed costs. Canada's coal production in 1978 is expected to remain fairly steady at levels similar to those in 1977, when they reached about 28,500,000 metric tons, of which British Columbia and Alberta provided almost 21,000,000 tons. Output in 1976 was 25,400,000 tons. Some legislative changes, such as higher royalties in British Columbia and rigid environmental measures in Alberta (the two provinces that produce the bulk of Canada's coal) have helped to slow the industry's momentum.

• OSTI ID: 6501498
• Journal Information: World Coal; (United States), Journal Name: World Coal; (United States) Vol. 4:11; ISSN WOCOD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
012000* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Mining
CANADA
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
COAL
COAL INDUSTRY
COAL MINING
COAL RESERVES
ENERGY SOURCES
EXPORTS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
IMPORTS
INDUSTRY
MINING
NORTH AMERICA
PRODUCTION
RESERVES
RESOURCES
TRADE