Coal is vital. While oil serves as the world’s primary transportation fuel, coal is the principal energy source for power generation. For this reason, coal will continue to be a prime and vital source of energy throughout the world, including the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries, where it accounts for half of electricity supply. Since 1970, coal usage to produce electricity has increased three-fold.

Coal is affordable and abundant. In 2006, on a relative energy content basis, natural gas and crude oil cost three and six times the cost of thermal coal, respectively. Moreover, world coal reserves remain large, with around 140 years of identified reserves.