Coal resources overview
The total in-ground
resource for New Zealand is estimated at over 15 billion tonnes, making
coal by far New Zealand’s biggest fossil fuel energy resource. The
South Island lignites make up 80% of this resource by tonnage and two
thirds by energy content. Very large quantities of lignite have been
shown to be economically recoverable, equivalent to the energy content
of about 20 Maui gas fields. The remaining coal resource consists of
higher grade bituminous and sub-bituminous coals, which account for
almost all current production, mainly from the Waikato and West Coast. Coal resource statistics are listed
elsewhere on this site, although recoverable figures for sub-bituminous
and bituminous coals are out of date and unreliable.
New Zealand's coal
resources are well known as a result of the exploration and mining
assessments carried out between 1975 and 1989 by the New Zealand Coal
Resources Survey (NZCRS) and earlier phases of exploration.
The NZCRS systematically explored all potentially coal-bearing regions
and effectively delineated, on a regional scale, most of the
potentially mineable coal resources that can be expected to be
discovered in New Zealand.
Documentation of New Zealand coal geology, resources, properties and
mining potential is held mainly by Crown Minerals which maintains a
collection of about 1800 coal reports including the comprehensive
exploration and mining studies carried out by the NZCRS and Liquid
Fuels Trust Board. Detailed information on production-related
exploration is held by mining permit holders. Operating mines are listed elsewhere
on this site.
PDFs (below) on New
Zealand's main coal deposits list key references for the main
coalfields which can be accessed from the online Technical Database. Some of these
references are also listed in the Coal Geology Report Series and the
Resource Information Report Series, which along with reports from
Liquid Fuels Trust Board studies, can be accessed on MED’s
publication listing.
The Minerals Programme for Coal
(pdf 409k) describes the policies, procedures and provisions involved
in the allocation and management of Crown-owned coal.
| TOPIC |
FACT SHEET |
| New Zealand coalfields |
 |
| Coal properties |
307 KB |
| New Zealand
Coal Resources Survey |
409 KB |
| Northland |
350 KB |
| Waikato |
782 KB |
| Taranaki |
625 KB |
| West Coast |
931 KB |
| Canterbury |
197 KB |
| Otago |
508 KB |
| Southland |
431 KB |
| Lignite resources |
696 KB |
|
Last
modified: 21 December 2006
