Anthracite Coal Mining Today
China today mines by far the largest share of global anthracite production, accounting for more than three-quarters of global output. Most Chinese production is of standard-grade anthracite, which is used in power generation. Increased demand in China has made that country into a net importer of the fuel, mostly from Vietnam, another major producer of anthracite for power generation, although increasing domestic consumption in Vietnam means that exports may be scaled back.
Mining of anthracite coal continues to this day in eastern Pennsylvania, and contributes up to 1% to the gross state product. The Anthracite market size of Pennsylvania is $150 million, by far the highest in the nation. More than 2,000 people were employed in the mining of anthracite coal in 1995. Most of the mining as of that date involved reclaiming coal from slag heaps (waste piles from past coal mining) at nearby closed mines. Some underground anthracite coal is also being mined. As petroleum and natural gas have become more expensive, anthracite coal may grow in its importance as an energy source.
Countries producing HG and UHG anthracite include Russia and South Africa. HG and UHG anthracite are used as a coke or coal substitute in various metallurgical applications (sintering, PCI, direct BF charge, pelletizing). It plays an important role in cost reduction in the steel making process and is also used in production of ferro-alloys, silicon-manganese, calcium-carbide and silicon-carbide. South Africa exports lower-quality, higher-ash anthracite to Brazil to be used in steel-making.
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