Australia's Coal Reserves: 38.7B Tonnes Black, 83.7B Tonnes Brown (2021)
Geoscience Australia (April 2021) reports Australia's recoverable coal reserves:
| Coal Type | Recoverable Reserves | Global Rank | Key Basins |
|---|
| Black Coal (bituminous + anthracite) | 38.7 billion metric tonnes | 3rd (after US, Russia) | Bowen (QLD), Sydney (NSW), Galilee (QLD), Surat (QLD) |
| Brown Coal / Lignite | 83.7 billion metric tonnes | 2nd (after Russia) | Latrobe Valley (VIC) — massive, shallow, low energy |
What "Recoverable" Means
Economically mineable with current technology/prices. In-situ (total in ground) is higher: ~150Bt black, ~200Bt+ brown.
Production vs. Reserves
- Black coal production (2022): ~450 Mt — 2nd largest exporter (after Indonesia)
- Brown coal production (2022): ~50 Mt — almost entirely domestic power (Latrobe Valley)
- Reserve life: Black ~85 yrs at current rate; Brown ~1,600 yrs
Critical Context
• Climate policy: Net zero 2050 → thermal coal phase-down. Metallurgical coal (steel) persists longer.
• Stranded asset risk: Reserves may become unburnable/unmineable.
• Reporting changes: JORC Code compliance; company-level reserves differ from national totals.
• Galilee Basin: Carmichael (Adani) operational; others contested.
Australia sits on vast coal — but the carbon budget math doesn't care about geology.
Wanderlust World