Global Coal Mine Tracker

This article is part of the Global Coal Mine Tracker, a project of Global Energy Monitor.

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Sub-articles:

Global coal mines Coal mines in China Coal mines in India Coal mines in the United States Coal mines in Australia Coal mines in Russia Coal mines in Indonesia

Related-articles:

Largest coal mines in the world Coal mine impacts from Covid-19 Environmental issues of coal Coal mining Coal reserves Coal terminals

The Global Coal Mine Tracker is a coal mine dataset created and maintained by Global Energy Monitor.

The tracker monitors active coal mines and proposed projects around the world and provides detailed information on each mine's ownership structure, production and capacity, resources and reserves, operational status, mining methods, workforce size, coal type, primary consumers, coal mine methane emission estimates, and more.

The global coal mine database can be downloaded here.

Project history

2020-2021

In January 2021, the Global Coal Mine Tracker launched with 1,200 mines. It provided information on major coal operations worldwide: every operating mine producing 5 million tonnes per year or larger, and every proposed mine with a capacity of 1 million tonne per year or larger.

The dataset was used for briefings and reports on the Covid-19 in coal mines, potential coal mine methane emissions from proposed projects, and global proposed coal projects.

In June 2021, the first mid-year update of the Global Coal Mine Tracker included over 1,500 mines, with information on every operating mine producing 3 million tonnes per year or larger, and every proposed mine with a capacity of 1 million tonne per year or larger. The update included expansions of global coverage and greater detail on commercial resources and reserves.

The dataset was used for briefings on stranded assets of North American coking coal projects.

2021-2022

In January 2022, the Global Coal Mine Tracker cataloged 3,016 coal mines and reached 93% global coverage, including every coal mine producing 1 million tonnes per year, with smaller mines included at discretion, every proposed coal mine project producing 1 million tonnes or more.

The dataset formed the basis of the tracker's research on global coal mine methane emissions, and China's mining boom in 2021.

In July 2022, the Global Coal Mine Tracker cataloged 3,670 coal mines and formed the basis of research on India's coal mine expansions and commercial auctions and corporate methane emissions.

2022-2023

As of April 2023, the Global Coal Mine Tracker has recorded information on 4,300 coal mines and mine projects, providing coverage for approximately 95% of global coal mining operations. Notably, there have been significant enhancements in coverage for Indonesia, South Africa, and Russia. The dataset now incorporates the initial outcomes of our machine learning model, which estimates workforce size, along with coal mine methane estimates for all mines.

Moving ahead, the Global Coal Mine Tracker will undergo updates on an annual basis, with the next update scheduled for April.

Methodology

Architecture

Global Energy Monitor’s Global Coal Mine Tracker uses a two-level system for organizing information, consisting of a database of the world's mines and a separate factsheet on Gem.wiki that provides a repository of information, including project background, financing, environmental impacts, labor activity, public opposition, aerial photographs, videos, links to permits, and maps.

Research Process

A preliminary list of coal mines in each country were first gathered from public and private data sources in 2020. The project manager and researchers continue to gather data on mines in every country on a daily basis. This information is vetted against additional sources:

• Government data on individual coal mines
• Reports by state-owned and private mining companies
• News and media reports
• Local non-governmental organizations tracking mining permits and mine operations
• On-the-ground contacts who can provide first-hand information about a project or mine

Where possible, coal mine data is circulated for review to researchers familiar with local conditions and languages.

Greenhouse gas emissions

Methane

The Global Coal Mine Tracker estimates coal mine methane emissions at the mine level using a methodology outlined in estimating methane emissions from coal mines.

Carbon Dioxide

The Global Coal Mine Tracker estimates potential carbon dioxide emissions from the combustion of CO2 mined, a category known as "extraction based" or "bottom-up" emissions, which is outlined further in estimating carbon dioxide emissions from coal mines.

Interactive front end

The Global Coal Mine Tracker is presented with interactive maps, summary tables, and data dashboard visualizations on aggregated data for production, project proposals, greenhouse gas emissions, and the number of mines at the national, regional, and company levels.

The tracker also includes mine specific entries for each asset on Gem.wiki.

Reports & Briefings

• Methane Corporates: 30 Companies responsible for nearly half of the energy sector's methane emissions (2022)
• Why India’s New Coal Mines Won’t Solve its Power Crisis (2022)
• Why China’s Coal Mine Boom Jeopardizes Short-Term Climate Targets (2022)
• Bigger than Oil and Gas? Sizing up Coal Mine Methane (2022)
• North American Coal Producers Plan $4.8 Billion USD On 15 New Mines For Steel Export Markets (2021)
• Deep Trouble: Tracking Global Coal Mine Proposals (2021)
• Coal Mine Methane On the Brink (2021)
• Covid-19 Cases On The Rise In Coal Mines (2020)

Request Data

The database can be requested here.