EU coal production and consumption up in 2022

By Basak Erkalan

ANKARA (AA) - Coal production and consumption in European Union (EU) countries increased year on year by 5% and 2%, respectively, in 2022, according to Eurostat data on Thursday.

Production reached 349 million tons while consumption rose to 454 million tons.

"This rebound started in 2021 and was mainly driven by lignite, a solid fossil fuel with low energy content belonging to the bigger category of brown coal," Eurostat said.

The EU produced 294 million tons of brown coal in 2022, marking a rise of 6% from 2021.

Despite the recent rebound in production, numbers stayed below pre-pandemic 2019 levels.

According to the latest data, nine EU member countries produce brown coal, with Germany leading as the main producer, accounting for 44% of the EU’s total brown coal production last year with 131 million tons.

Other member states include Poland with a 19% share, Bulgaria with 12%, Czechia with 11%, and contributions from Romania, Greece, Hungary, Slovenia, and Slovakia.

The data showed total hard coal consumption of 160 million tons in 2022.