What Is Coal?
Coal accounts for about 27 percent of the world's total energy consumption. And in the United States, coal produces almost 50 percent of the nation's electricity.
What Are the Benefits?
In addition to generating electricity, coal is used in steel production, cement manufacturing and other industrial processes.
From 2005 to 2030, world coal consumption is projected to increase 65 percent. The most significant increase in the use of coal will come from developing countries. China and India — led by strong economic growth and a rising demand for energy — will account for 79 percent of the projected increase.
With a 300-year supply in the United States alone, coal's growth potential is promising. We anticipate many new applications for its use. In addition, new "clean coal" technologies will continue to enhance our ability to tap coal reserves while minimizing the effects of its extraction on the environment.
What Chevron Is Doing
As part of its diverse portfolio of energy resources, Chevron owns and operates three U.S.-based coal mines.
Chevron Mining Inc. is one of the oldest continuously operating mining companies in the United States and currently operates mines in North River, Alabama; McKinley County, New Mexico; and Kemmerer, Wyoming. The company's coal sales in 2008 reached 11.1 million tons.
In the United States, coal is used primarily to generate electricity, but it also is a valuable resource for various industries that use its ingredients to make plastics, tar, synthetic fibers and other products.
Safety First
Chevron employees are committed to operating in a safe and environmentally responsible manner. In 2008, our Kemmerer mine exceeded three years without a lost-workday injury. Our employees worked more than 1 million man-hours with no lost-time injuries while setting a production record of 5.0 million tons of coal.
Our McKinley mine drew top honors from the New Mexico Mining & Minerals Division of the Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department for restoring the area to its pre-mining landscape.
Updated: March 2009