22. 5. 78 Official  Journal  of the European  Communities No C 118/1 
I 
(Information) 
COMMISSION 
THE  COMMUNITY  COAL  MARKET  IN 1977  AND  FORECASTS  FOR  1978 
I. SUMMARY  SURVEY 
1. The  coal  market  in 1977 
The Community's  energy  demand  in 1977  is provision-
ally estimated  to have  been  only  11%  above  that  of the 
previous  year  due  mainly  to low  economic  growth  with 
deliberate  energy  conservation  playing  a minor  role. 
However,  this  figure  will  probably  still  require  correc-
tion. 
Natural  gas,  nuclear  and  hydro-electricity  all increased 
their  share,  the  total  from  these  sources  rising  from 
22 % in 1976  to 24 6 % in 1977.  By contrast,  the share 
of oil dropped  from  55-3  % to 53-7  %, that  of coal 
from  19-5  to 18 8 % and  that  of lignite  and  similar  fuels 
from  3 2 to 2 9 %. In total,  solid  fuels  thus  met  21-7  % 
of the  Community's  energy  requirements  in 1977 
compared  to 22 7 % the  previous  year.  Table  1 gives 
detailed  figures  by country  based  on estimates  made  on 
14 December  1977  as these  figures  were  the only  ones 
available  at the moment  of going  to press. 
Coal  consumption  in the Community  in 1977  amounted 
to about  255  mtce  (million  tonnes  of coal  equivalent) 
compared  to 263  mtce  in 1976.  However,  neither  this 
nor the percentage  decrease  mentioned  above  represents 
a drop  in the absolute  contribution  of coal  to meeting 
the Community's  energy  needs,  if the requirements  of 
the steel  industry  are left  out of account.  On the con-
trary,  coal  consumption  rose  from  160  mtce  in 1976  to 
slightly  over  162  mtce  last  year  after  deducting  coal 
consumed  by cokeries  and  for various  other  uses  in the 
steel  industry. The modest  improvement  in the steel  industry  in 1976 
was reversed  again  in 1977.  As a result,  coke  consump-
tion by that  industry  reached  barely  52 million  tonnes, 
6-8 % below  1976.  This  was  16 million  tonnes  less  than 
in 1974,  representing  a drop  in terms  of coal  of nearly 
21 mtce  from  the level  during  the last  year  of a strong 
steel  market. 
Coal  consumption  for electricity  generation  has  seen  a 
further  slight  rise  in 1977,  following  a spectacular  jump 
of close  on 18 % the  previous  year.  Bearing  in mind 
that,  unlike  in 1976,  there  was  ample  water  for hydro-
electricity  in 1977  and  that  the nuclear  contribution  to 
the Community's  energy  requirements  had  increased 
substantially,  the progress  of coal  in electricity  gener-
ation  appears  fairly  satisfactory.  However,  from  the 
point  of view  of developing  a Community  energy  policy, 
it is less  satisfactory  that  nine-tenths  of the 121  mtce 
used  in power  stations  was  burned  in just  three  member 
countries:  the UK,  Germany  and  France. 
Community  coal  production  in 1977  was  about  218 
mtce,  down  9 mtce  from  the previous  year.  The  princi-
pal causes  were  the  same  as for a similar  drop  from 
1975  to 1976:  production  cutbacks  in Germany  in 
response  to market  conditions  and  falling  productivity 
in the UK.  In spite  of these  adverse  factors,  investment 
in coal  production  and  preparation  continued  at sub-
stantial  levels  in both  these  countries  and  in France. 
No C 118/2 Official  Journal  of the European  Communities 22. 5. 78 
CONSUMPTION  OF  HARD  COAL PRODUCTION  OF  HARD  COAL 
X 106  tee (Forecasts) 
rrrmr 
Belgium Germany  (FR) 
United  Kingdom Others 
France 
Domestic x 106  tee 
IH 
Cokeries 
I 
mmmt-:::::::::::::::: 
I:::::::::::::::: :::::::::::::: Power 
illiilla 
Hiiiiiiiiiiiiliiih-
!• 1 
—illiiiij!!!!:!!!!!— stations 
::::::::::::::::: 
::::::::::::::::: ••••••••••••«••« 
:::::::: ::::::: 
::::::::::::::::: 
iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii 
I iaiaMM 
(Forecast) 
IMPORTS  OF  HARD  COAL 
Others 
• south  Africa  ^ 
Australia  1  J USSR 
Poland 
USA PRODUCERS'  STOCKS 
m Hard  coal 
Coke 
22. S. 78 Official  Journal  of the European  Communities No C 118/3 
The rise in production  costs  continued  to slow  down  in 
1977  but market  conditions  did not allow  them  to be 
recouped  through  sufficient  price  increases  except  in 
the UK.  As a result,  the financial  position  of the coal 
industries  in Germany,  France  and Belgium  deteriorated 
during  the year  and  their  need  for State  aids  increased 
appreciably. Lower  -British  production  costs  have  enabled  the 
UK coal  industry  to dispose  of its output  on the home 
market  without  undue  problems  but the coal  industries 
in the other  Member  States  are facing  mounting  difficult-
ies. As by far the largest  producer  of coking  coal  and 
traditional  supplier  to other  Member  States,  the Ger-
man coal  industry  is particularly  severely  affected  by 
disposal  problems  which  are  reflected  in very  large 
stocks  of coal  and  coke. 
In general,  price  increases  have  been  moderate  but their 
impact  on the market  has been  obscured  by movements 
in rates  of exchange.  Thus,  while  prices  of German  coal 
remained  unchanged  in 1977,  its competitive  position 
deteriorated  due  to the appreciation  of the DM  in terms 
of most  other  currencies  including  the US dollar.  On the 
other  hand,  price  rises  of the order  of 15 % by the UK 
coal industry  did not seriously  affect  its competitiveness. 
Likewise,  the tendency  towards  price  stability  for third 
country  coking  coal  at around  $ 62 cif ARA  and  of 
steam  coal  in the 30 to $ 35 region  has affected  various 
member  countries  differently,  depending  on movements 
in their  rates  of exchange  in relation  to the dollar. 2. The  coal  market  outlook  for 1978 
The modest  increase  in economic  activity  expected  in 
the Community  for 1978  appears  unlikely  to raise  plant 
utilization  sufficiently  to provide  adequate  incentives  for 
a rising  level  of capital  investment. 
As a result,  no substantial  growth  in demand  for coal 
and coke  by the steel  industry  can be expected.  In fact, 
unless  the investment  climate  improves  during  the sec-
ond half  of the year,  this market  is likely  to be stagnant 
in 1978. 
Intra-Community  exchanges  rose  by some  6 % in 1977 
and imports  from  third  countries  by about  2 %. As 
third  country  suppliers,  Poland  and  the  US retained 
respectively  first  and  second  places  but their  predomi-
nance  is being  eroded  by growing  deliveries  from 
Australia  and  South  Africa.  The  positions  of France 
followed  by Italy  as the largest  importers  have  remained 
unchanged,  as has  the  proportion  of about  50 % of 
third  country  imports  destined  for power  stations  and 
the rest  for the steel  industry  and  other  markets. On the  other  hand,  coal  consumption  for  electricity 
generation  is forecast  to grow  further,  probably  at a 
slightly  faster  rate  than  in 1977,  to reach  about  127 
mtce  for the Community.  This  growth  is expected  to be 
accompanied  by two  highly  desirable  trends:  a slight 
increase  in the  proportion  of coal  burned  elsewhere 
than in the major  coal  producing  member  countries  and 
a rise  in intra-Community  power  station  coal  sales.  The 
extent  of the first  will  be governed  mainly  by technical 
factors,  whereas  questions  of price  will  tend  to exercise 
a decisive  influence  on the second. 
As the situation  in the steel  industry  has been  changing 
little  over  the past  three  years,  the cumulative  reduction 
in coal  consumption  by that  industry  over  the period 
has amounted  to some  60 mtce.  Although  during  the 
same  period,  additional  coal  consumption  by the elec-
tricity  generating  industry  has totalled  about  31 mtce, 
cheaper  supplies  of steam  coal  available  from  third 
countries  have  made  it extremely  difficult  for  the 
Community's  coal  industry  to sell  its surplus  on this 
enlarged  market  except  within  the  framework  of 
national  support  systems. 
The Community's  coal  industry  is thus  faced  with  grow-
ing disposal  and  stocking  problems  as a result  of the 
contraction  of the coking  coal  market,  matched  by no 
more  than  a marginal  drop  in coking  coal  imports  from 
third  countries,  and  little  progress  in the field  of elec-
tricity  generation. No appreciable  changes  can  be foreseen  in the general 
industrial  market  except  in the event  of some  additional 
conversions  to coal-firing  in the cement  industry.  The 
domestic  sector  must  be expected  to continue  its con-
traction. 
Community  coal  production  in 1978  has  provisionally 
been  estimated  at about  the same  level  as in 1977,  sub-
ject to two  major  provisos.  These  are that  output  in the 
Ruhr  will  be deliberately  limited  at its 1977  level  and 
that the introduction  of productivity  incentives  in the 
British  coal  industry  will  do no more  than  halt  the 
downward  drift  in production  of recent  years. 
Large  stocks  and  the  depressed  state  of the  coking 
coal and  coke  market  make  it improbable  that  the 
assumption  concerning  the 1978  level  of production  in 
No C 118/4 Official  Journal  of the European  Communities 22. 5. 78 
the Ruhr  will  prove  mistaken.  On the other  hand,  no 
valid  predictions  can be made  at this  stage  in regard  to 
the effects  of the introduction  of productivity  incentives 
in the UK. 
A parallel  dichotomy  applies  to the probable  develop-
ments  of intra-Community  exchanges  and  of imports 
from  third  countries  in 1978:  those  of coking  coal  and 
coke  are unlikely  to register  any  appreciable  variations 
compared  to 1977,  whereas  those  of power  station  coal 
leave  considerable  margins  of uncertainty.  Current 
estimates  are that  power  station  coal  imports  from  third 
countries  will  remain  at their  1977  level  and  that  in-
tra-Community  deliveries  will  rise  by around  1 to 1-5 
million  tonnes  but the possibility  of further  agreements 
between  coal  producers  and  the electricity  industry  in 
other  member  countries  leading  to an increased  share  of 
this market  for  Community  coal  should  not  be dis-
counted. 
However,  neither  rising  coal-burn  for electricity  gener-
ation  during  the past  three  years  nor the slight  reversal 
in the trend  of intra-Community  exchanges  and  third 
country  imports  expected  for 1978  are making  a serious 
impact  on the following  fundamental  problems: continuing  heavy  dependence  of some  Member 
States  on oil and  gas for electricity  generation; 
— inadequate  investment  in coal-fired  power  stations 
to avoid  a steep  rise in oil and  gas requirements  for 
electricity  generation  in the 1980s; 
— great  reluctance  by the  Community's  electricity 
producers,  consumers  and  governments,  except  in 
the coal-producing  Member  States,  to share  with  the 
coal producers  the financial  burdens  currently  aris-
ing from  the  use  of Community  coal  in power 
stations  in competition  with  third  country  coal; 
— mounting  difficulties  in maintaining  and  developing 
the Community's  coal-production  capacity  in the 
absence  of a larger  effective  intra-Community 
power  station  coal  market. 
The Commission  is continuing  its efforts  in seeking 
solutions  to these  problems. 
II. GENERAL  ECONOMIC  SITUATION  AND  OUTLOOK 
(Table  2) 
After  a downward  trend  in the economy  earlier  in 1977, 
industrial  output  and  private  consumption  started  to 
rise in several  Member  States  in the autumn.  On the 
other  hand,  low  plant  utilization  has continued  to in-
hibit  investment.  As the  growth  in activity  in the 
agricultural  and  service  sectors  was  also  weak,  the 
Community's  gross  domestic  product,  for the year  as a 
whole,  increased  only  by 19 % in real  terms,  compared 
to 4 8 % in 1976. 
Unemployment  rose  until  the  autumn  as increasing 
numbers  of young  people  came  onto  the labour  market. 
However,  this  has  since  stabilized  at 5-7  % of the 
civilian  working  population. 
In spite  of sluggish  exports  since  the summer,  the bal-
ance  of payments  of the Communty  has  continued  to 
improve  as a result  of lower  imports  from  third  count-
ries. The  rate  of inflation  in the Community  abated 
during  the second  half  of the year,  and  differences  in 
this respect  between  Member  States  have  become  less 
marked. The outlook,  at least  for the first  half  of 1978,  gives 
cause  for modest  optimism.  Exports  from  the Com-
munity  to non-member  countries  are expected  to rise 
and the growth  in home  demand  is likely  to accelerate. 
However,  high  stocks  of some  products  may  have  a 
dampening  effect. 
Although  industrial  production  is expected  to show 
moderate  expansion  during  the first  half of 1978,  this  is 
unlikely  to improve  appreciably  plant  utilization.  Unless 
this can be achieved  later  in the year,  the increase  in the 
Community's  gross  domestic  product  will  reach  about 
3 % for the year  as a whole. 
Upward  movements  in prices  are likely  to abate  further 
and the  balance  of payments  should  continue  to im-
prove.  On  the  other  hand,  unemployment  might  rise 
again  slightly  as the population  of working  age  con-
tinues  to grow. 
22. 5. 78 Official  Journal  of the European  Communities No C 118/5 
III. COAL  DEMAND  BY SECTORS 
1. Steel  industry  and  other  coke  users 
(Tables  4 to 7) 
The most  severe  world-wide  steel  industry  recession  in 
30 years  started  in 1975  and  has  continued  since  then 
with  little  change. 
Repeated  expectations  of sustained  recovery  have  been 
disappointed,  and  total  steel  production  in the  Com-
munity  in 1977  of 126  million  tonnes  was  nearly 
30 million  tonnes  below  its peak  of 1974  and  only 
marginally  above  its lowest  point  during  the  current 
recession.  Still  worse  from  the coal  industry's  point  of 
view,  the drop  of close  on 24 million  tonnes  in pig-iron 
production  from  its 1974  peak  has,  in percentage  terms, 
been  even  slightly  more  severe. 
Developments  have  differed  between  Member  States  in 
that the recession  has been  particularly  grave  in the steel 
industries  of Belgium  and  Luxembourg,  followed  by 
that of Germany,  all large  consumers  of coke  tradition-
ally produced  from  Community  coal,  particularly 
German  coal.  Whereas  the  drop  in steel  production 
from  its peak  in 1974  to 1977  was  32 % in Belgium 
and Luxembourg  and  over  26 % in Germany,  it was 
17 % in France  while,  for different  reasons,  that  of Italy 
and the United  Kingdom  fell only  slightly  from  its 1974 
level.  However,  allowing  for the fact  that  labour  rela-
tions  problems  in the British  coal  and  steel  industries 
depressed  output  in 1974  and  therefore  taking  the pre-
vious  year  as a reference,  steel  output  in the  United 
Kingdom  dropped  by 22 % from  its peak  earlier  in the 
decade. 
Of the  latter  three  countries,  France  has  large  steel 
works  on the coast,  better  sited  to receive  their  coal  and 
iron ore  supplies  from  overseas  than  from  Community 
sources.  The  same  applies  to Italy,  where,  furthermore, 
only  about  50 % of steel  is produced  from  pig iron. 
As regards  the United  Kingdom,  the steel  industry  relies 
largely  on indigenous  coking  coal,  supplemented  by 
imports  of special  qualities  from  third  countries,  and  is 
thus not a substantial  traditional  market  for coking  coal 
or coke  produced  in other  Member  States. 
As the recession  in steel  production  has  been  particu-
larly  severe  in the German  coal  industry's  most  impor-
tant markets  for coal  and  coke,  its disposal  problems 
have  been  correspondingly  grave  and  are  reflected  in 
steep  rises  in stocks  in spite  of deliberate  cut-backs  in output.  Whereas  German  coal  production  in 1977  was 
some  10 million  tonnes  below  that  in 1974,  the indus-
try's stocks  of coal  and  coke,  the latter  converted  into 
their  equivalent  in coal,  were  some  30 million  tonnes 
higher. 
At the time  of the compilation  of this  document,  there  is 
nothing  to foreshadow  a substantial  revival  in demand 
for steel  in 1978.  Accordingly,  steel  production  has been 
forecast  at 129  million  tonnes  and  pig iron  production 
at slightly  below  91 million  tonnes,  the former  an in-
crease  of just  over  2 % and  the  latter  of around  3 % 
over 1977. 
The relatively  better  utilization  of certain  modern  in-
stallations  on coastal  sites  compared  to some  older 
plant  in traditional  inland  production  areas  is the prin-
cipal  explanation  of the big drop  in specific  coke  input 
between  1976  and  1977,  particularly  in France.  With 
little  change  expected  in 1978,  coke  requirements  by the 
steel industry  are  thus  unlikely  to differ  greatly  from 
those  in 1977. 
Consumption  of coke-oven  coke  by other  industries  at 
about  4 8 million  tonnes  in 1977  showed  a slight  rise 
over  1976  and  is expected  to remain  at about  this  level 
in 1978.  However,  in common  with  all solid  fuels,  its 
use for domestic  heating  continues  to decrease. 
Taking  all markets  into  account,  about  63 million 
tonnes  of coke-oven  coke  were  consumed  in 1977.  This 
represents  a drop  of over  6 % from  the previous  year, 
but maintenance  of this  level  of demand,  or possibly  a 
slight  increase,  is expected  for 1978. 
2. Power  stations 
(Tables  8 A, B and  C) 
Electricity  consumption  in the Community  in 1977  was 
about  4-5 % above  that  of the previous  year.  However, 
electricity  production  in the  Community  was  only 
3-3 % higher,  the explanation  for the difference  lying  in 
greatly  increased  net imports  of hydraulically  generated 
electricity  from  Austria,  Switzerland  and  the  Scan-
dinavian  peninsula  due  to plentiful  supplies  of water 
after  the previous  year's  drought. 
Apart  from  much  greater  availability  of hydro-elec-
tricity,  both  imported  from  outside  and  produced  in the 
Community,  the  only  other  important  change  in the 
pattern  of electricity  production  in 1977  compared  to 
No C 118/6 Official  Journal  of the European  Communities 22. 5. 78 
1976  has been  a considerable  rise in nuclear  generation. 
On the  other  hand,  electricity  production  from  gas, 
both  natural  and  by-product,  and  from  lignite,  peat  and 
oil all fell,  the last-mentioned  by 8 7 %. By contrast, 
coal registered  a marginal  increase. 
Due to attractive  prices  of indigenous  coal  in the UK in 
relation  to the price  of oil, power  station  coal-burn  in 
that country  rose  by about  2 mtce  and  continued  to 
represent  more  than  half  the total  for the Community. 
On the  other  hand,  coal  consumption  for  electricity 
generation  showed  no significant  changes  in France  and 
Italy,  but  percentagewise  important  increases  were 
registered  in Belgium,  Denmark  and  the Netherlands, 
while  in Germany  it dropped  by over  4 %. 
Total  consumption  of coal  for electricity  generation  in 
the Community  in 1977  was  in the  region  of 121 
mtce,  an increase  of about  2 % over  that  in 1976. 
Although  this  is small  compared  to the previous  year's 
rise of close  on 18 %, it must  be remembered  that  this 
tremendous  growth  was  due in part  to a severe  shortage 
of water  for hydro-electric  generation.  Judged  over  the 
two-year  period  since  1975,  coal-fired  electricity  gene-
ration  has  risen  about  twice  as fast  as total  electricity 
production  in the Community. 
The consumption  of lignite  for electricity  generation  in 
Germany  has been  reduced  by 8-8 % in 1977  in order 
to promote  the coal-burn  in this sector. Important  increases  in power  station  coal  consumption 
in Denmark  and  Italy  can  be forseen  for 1978.  The 
likely  total  of about  4 4 mtce  in Denmark  brings  coal  to 
nearly  55 % of all fuels  used  for electricity  generation, 
by far the highest  percentage  in the Community  after 
the UK.  Around  14 mtce  of this  may  be Community 
coal.  By contrast,  projected  coal-burn  of 2-3  mtce  in 
Italy  in 1978  is still less than  half  the target  of 5 mtce  to 
be burned  for electricity  generation  by 1980  and  will 
represent  barely  6 % of total  fossil  fuel,  against  76 % 
represented  by oil. 
In other  Community  countries  varying  moderate  in-
creases  in coal  consumption  for electricity  generation 
are expected  in 1978.  Furthermore,  the proportion  of 
coal obtained  from  Community  sources  instead  of from 
third  countries  will  rise  in France  and,  possibly,  else-
where. 
Lignite  and  peat  consumption  by power  station  was 
about  34 mtce  in 1977  compared  to 37 mtce  the pre-
vious  year.  An overwhelming  proportion  of this  was 
used in the approximately  14 000  MW  of lignite-fired 
plant  in the Cologne-Aachen  area  in Germany.  The  only 
other  Member  States  where  low  calorie  fuels  have  a 
certain  national  importance  are France  and ireland,  peat 
consumption  in the latter  of 1 mtce  representing  about 
34 % of fuel  used  for electricity  generation. 
The position  of both  lignite  and  peat  is likely  to remain 
about  the same  in 1978. 
However,  there  remains  a gross  imbalance  between  the 
different  member  countries,  in that  less  than  10 % of 
total  coal  used  for electricity  generation  was  burned 
outside  the  UK,  Germany  and  France.  Furthermore, 
deliveries  of coal  to power  stations  show  a much  steeper  3.  Various  industries 
rise for imports  from  third  countries  than  from  other 
members  of the Community  (Table  8 C). (Table  9) 
Last year's  trend  of a moderate  increase  in coal  con-
sumption  for electricity  generation  in the Community  is 
likely  to continue  in 1978.  However,  various  special 
factors  are expected  to influence  the situation  in the 
Member  States. Unlike  demand  for coal  and  coke  by the steel  industry, 
sales  to the general  industrial  market,  particularly  of 
coal,  show  an upturn  in 1977  compared  to the previous 
year.  This  is particularly  notable  in the UK,  but  the 
same  trend  is descernible  elsewhere. 
Electricity  producers  in Belgium  entered  the winter  of 
1977/78  with  coal  stocks  above  their  usual  level.  These 
are expected  to be reduced  in the course  of 1978  with 
the result  that  deliveries  to power  stations  may  be 
slightly  below  coal-burn. Indications  suggest  that  this  rise  in coal  and  coke  con-
sumption  is due  to increased  economic  activity  rather 
than to any  substantial  conversions  to coal-firing  from 
other  fuels.  These  are likely  to have  to await  the indus-
trial availability  of fluidized-bed  boilers  able  to provide 
22. 5. 78 Official  Journal  of the European  Communities No C 118/7 
the same  calorific  output  from  more  compact  installa-
tions  than  conventional  coal-fired  boilers,  combined 
with  greatly  reduced  noxious  flue-gas  emission. 
Currently,  there  are no firm  indications  of a further  rise 
in coal  and  coke  consumption  by general  industry  in 
1978  but some  possible  additional  conversions  to coal-
firing  in the cement  industry  might  bring  this  about. 
However,  the diversity  of the general  industrial  market 
makes  predictions  for this particularly  difficult. 
4. Domestic 
(Table  10) 
The inexorable  decline  in the market  for domestic  solid 
fuel has continued  everywhere  in the Community  except in the UK  and  Ireland.  Unlike  in the recent  past,  con-
sumption  of patent  fuels  no longer  shows  a substantially 
slower  rate  of decline  than  that  of coal. 
Furthermore,  in the coal  producing  Member  States,  a 
significant  proportion  of solid  fuels  used  for domestic 
purposes  consists  of concessionary  supplies  to persons 
active  in or retired  from  the solid  fuel  industries.  As a 
Community  average,  these  tonnages  amount  to 13 % of 
the total,  while  in Germany  they  represent  about  a 
quarter.  Accordingly,  the genuine  market  for solid  fuels 
is, in effect,  smaller  than  suggested  by the figures  in 
Table  10. 
There  is nothing  to indicate  a change  of trend.  Accord-
ingly,  for the first  time,  solid  fuel  consumption  in the 
Community  is expected  to be below  30 mtce  in 1978. 
IV. COMMUNITY  COAL  PRODUCTION 
1. Production  statistics 
Except  for  most  German  production,  the  producer 
countries'  statistics  generally  show  coal  output  on a 
tonne  by weight  basis  (t = t). To allow  comparisons 
with national  statistics,  the figures  showing  output  by 
areas  in Table  11 are given  in t =t. In addition,  the, 
figures  for .total  German  'usable  production'  as defined, 
for that  country's  statistics  are shown  in brackets. 
(a) Quantitative  analysis  of output 
(Tables  11 and 12) 
Community  coal  production  in 1977  was  about  238 
million  tonnes  (218  mtce),  a drop  of 10 million  tonnes 
(9 mtce)  or 3 8 % below  1976. 
Production  forecasts  made  at the beginning  of the year 
proved  to be 9 to 10 million  tonnes  too high  both  in 
1976  and  1977.  The  principal  reasons  were  the same: 
adjustment  to market  conditions  through  short-time 
working  and  preparatory  work  in place  of output  in 
Germany  and,  in the UK,  lower  productivity  than  fore-
cast. to unsatisfactory  productivity.  In the  other  areas  of 
the Community  output  remained  stable,  except  in the 
coalfield  extending  from  southern  Belgium  into  north-
ern France  where  production  is being  gradually  reduced 
with a view  to ceasing  altogether  in Belgium  in 1982 
and in France  in 1985. 
Two  factors  make  the outlook  for 1978  uncertain.  The 
first of these  is the reluctance  of the German  coal  indus-
try to continue  short-time  working  combined  with 
costly,  non-revenue  producing  preparatory  work,  in-
stead  of employing  resources  of equipment  and  man-
power  to potentially  greater  economic  advantage  by 
producing  coal.  However,  in the  absence  of massive 
intervention  by the German  Government  or the Com-
munity,  it is difficult  to see a market  for the resultant 
additional  output,  and  forecasts  of German  production 
in 1978  have,  therefore,  been  pitched  at about  the same 
level  as that  reached  in 1977. 
The outlook  for the UK coal  industry  is unclear  at the 
time of the compilation  of this  document  as the effects 
of the introduction  of productivity  incentives  cannot  be 
forseen  at this  point.  Output  for 1978  has  therefore 
been  provisionally  forecast  at the  same  figures  as in 
1977. 
The deliberate  cutback  in production  in Germany  of 
some  4 9 million  tonnes  in 1977  compared  to the pre-
vious  year  represents  by far the largest  element  in the 
drop  in total  Community  production,  followed  by a 
reduction  in UK output  of some  2-8 million  tonnes  due On the above  assumptions  relating  to the German  and 
UK coal  industries,  Community  production  in 1978 
would  be of the  order  of 238  million  tonnes  (218 
mtce),  the same  as in 1977. 
No C 118/8 Official  Journal  of the European  Communities 22. 5. 78 
(b) Manpower  and  productivity 
(Tables  13 and  14) 
The figure  showing  a reduction  of 7 200  men  or 2-2 % 
in underground  manpower  in the  Community's  coal 
industry  represents  a trend  present  in all coal-producing 
Member  States.  However,  it should  be noted  that  in 
spite  of 6 500  underground  workers  aged  62 and  over 
having  left the British  coal  industry  in the summer  as a 
result  of new  pension  rules,  the  net  drop  in under-
ground  manpower  in the UK by the end  of 1977  was 
only about  2 000  men  (reflected  in a drop  in average 
manpower  throughout  the year  of 1 000 men  in Table 
13). 
As in the case  of manpower,  the development  of pro-
ductivity  shows  different  trends  as between  the UK and 
the other  coal-producing  member  countries.  Further-
more,  certain  special  factors  have  distorted  productivity 
developments. 
Underground  productivity  everywhere  except  in Bel-
gium  has  proved  disappointing  in 1977  compared  to 
forecasts  made  at the start  of the year.  In the case  of 
Germany,  the very  low  increase  is primarily  a reflection 
of above  normal  employment  of men  in preparatory 
work  instead  of coal  production  in view  of the  de-
pressed  market  for German  coal.  On the other  hand,  the 
drop  in productivity  in the UK  is widely  reckoned  to 
have  been  due  to the absence  of effective  productivity 
incentives,  and it was  only  towards  the end of 1977  that 
preliminary  arrangements  for introducing  such  incen-
tives  the following  year  could  be made. 
In 1978,  developments  regarding  underground  man-
power  are expected  to follow  the same  lines  as in the 
previous  year.  However,  productivity  can be affected  by 
so many  unpredictable  factors  in the  fields  of pro-
duction  policy  and  labour  relations  that  forecasts  can 
never  be more  than  tentative.  This  is particularly  so as 
regards  the UK  where  the year  1978  might  witness  a 
complete  turnround  in the trend  of recent  years  and  a 
10 % rise  in underground  coal  production  compared  to 
1977  is not beyond  the bounds  of possibility. 
By the time  the revision  of the Community  coal  market 
forecasts  for  the  current  year  is prepared  by the 
Commission  in the course  of the summer,  it should  be 
possible  to make  a realistic  assessment  of the effects  of 
the introduction  of new  productivity  incentives  in the 
UK and  of their  likely  impact  on total  output  in 1978. 
2. Financial  developments 
(a) Production  costs  and  proceeds 
(Table  15) 
In all coal-producing  countries  of the Community,  costs 
have  risen  more  slowly  in 1977  than  in 1976.  This development  was  partly  due to lower  wage  rises  in 1977 
and partly  to material  costs  increasing  relatively  slightly 
in line  with  the general  decrease  in inflationary  press-
ures. 
The most  important  factor  in developments  in produc-
tion costs  is the relationship  between  wages  and produc-
tivity.  In 1977,  wages  rose  more  than  output  per under-
ground  manshift,  this  discrepancy  was  especially 
marked  in the British  coal  mining  industry  on account 
of an actual  drop  in productivity  in 1977  compared  to 
1976.  However,  a comparison  between  the increase  in 
costs  in the  UK  and  in the  other  coal-producing 
Member  States  must  take  account  of fluctuations  of the 
pound  against  the currencies  of these  countries. 
The development  in the proceeds  of the coal  industry 
from  1976  to 1977  differed  as between  the coal-produc-
ing member  countries. 
In Belgium,  there  has been  a fairly  sharp  drop  in pro-
ceeds  because  prices  for coking  coal  were  slightly  low-
ered and  certain  quantities  of coking  coal  were  sold  to 
power  stations  at steam  coal  prices  to avoid  rising 
stocks.  In Germany,  the decrease  in proceeds  was  due to 
a change  in markets:  while  sales  of coking  coal  — at 
relatively  high  prices  — have  diminished,  those  of 
steam  coal  have  stagnated.  Higher  proceeds  in France 
and the UK were  due to price  rises. 
The diverging  development  of costs  and  proceeds  has 
resulted  in a deterioration  of the profitability  of under-
takings.  The  gulf  between  costs  and  receipts  was  widest 
in Belgium,  while  the British  coal  industry  operated  near 
the break-even  point. 
(b) Financial  intervention  by Member  States 
(Table  16) 
All coal  producers  in the Community  received  govern-
ment  subsidies  to cover  certain  special  outgoings,  costs 
or losses  in 1977.  Due  to deteriorating  profitability,  the 
subsidies  have  everywhere  been  higher  than  in 1976. 
The figures  in Table  16 are a reflection  of the different 
financial  results  in the coal  mining  industry:  the situ-
ation  was  worst  in Belgium,  where  the highest  subsidies 
had to be paid,  and  most  favourable  in the UK,  where 
only a relatively  modest  payment  was  required. 
In comparing  coal  industry  subsidies  in the coal-produc-
ing member  countries  of the Community,  account  must 
be taken  of the fact  that  financial  aid by the State  is not 
the only  instrument  of support.  In some  cases,  financial 
22. 5. 78 Official  Journal  of the European  Communities No C 118/9 
measures  bear  on production  costs,  in other  cases, 
special  measures  guarantee  the  coal  industry  prices 
covering  costs  of production,  thereby  allowing  subsidies 
from  public  funds  to be reduced. 
A new  financial  relationship  between  the  French 
Government  and  the coal  industry  was  agreed  at the 
start of 1978.  Under  this,  the Government  has  taken 
over the  industry's  liabilities  resulting  from  past  but 
now terminated  activities  and  will  pay  a flat-rate  sub-
sidy on coal  production  of FF 14 per thermie,  subject  to 
adjustments  in inverse  ratio  to fluctuations  in the price 
of heavy  fuel  oil. 
3. Developments  in productive  capacity 
(a) Investments  in coal  production  and  preparation 
(Table  17) 
The investment  boom  which  started  in 1974  continued 
in 1975  and  1976  in spite  of falling  coal  production.  In 
this period,  capital  expenditure  in coal  mines  more  than 
doubled.  Although  annual  growth  rates  in capital  ex-
penditure  are slackening  as a Community  average,  they 
are still  high: 1974/73  +  22%, 
1975/74  +  58 %, 
1976/75  +  40 %. 
Investments  commenced  or committed  for  1977  and 
1978  are  slightly  below  the  1976  level,  but  adding 
further  likely  investment,  stabilization  at a high  level  is 
to be expected. 
Capital  expenditure  in the  UK  and  in Germany  per 
tonne  of coal  produced  continues  to be the highest, 
while  that  in Lorraine  is also  above  the Community 
average  of 3 20 EUA/tonne  (1976). 
(b) Pit closures 
(Table  18) 
Closures  in 1977  were  on a insignificant  scale,  affecting 
a total  of seven  small  pits  with  a combined  output  of 
0 8 million  tonnes  the previous  year. 
However,  more  substantial  closures  are  planned  for 
1978.  These  include  one pit in the Ruhr  producing  over 
two million  tonnes  and  one  in the Nord/Pas-de-Calais 
area with  an output  exceeding  one million  tonnes. 
V. COAL  PRICES 
1. Coal  price  developments  Purely  internally,  developments  in 1977  have  followed 
the previous  year's  pattern  of generally  moderate  in-
(Tables  19 and  20) creases  in the list prices  of Community  coals  (Table  19). 
In periods  of monetary  instability,  meaningful  com-
ments  on energy  price  developments  must  take  account 
both  of purely  internal  price  movements  and  of altered 
price  relationships  resulting  from  exchange  fluctuations. 
The first  of these  are shown  in Table  19 and an attempt 
is made  to represent  the latter  in Table  20. However, 
while  Table  20 does  give  a picture  of relative  price  de-
velopments  of various  coals  in the Community,  it can-
not presently  indicate  movements  in the prices  of these 
coals  in relation  to third  country  coal  quoted  in dollars. 
The Commission  hopes,  however,  to be able  to provide 
such a fuller  comparison  in clearly  tabulated  form  in its 
next annual  report  on the basis  of a Regulation  agreed 
by the  Governments  of the  Member  States  meeting 
within  the Council  on 7 November  1977  concerning  the 
provision  of improved  information  to be supplied  to the 
Commission  on coal  imports  from  third  countries. However,  such  changes  in terms  of national  currencies 
are only  one aspect  affecting  the competitiveness  of dif-
ferent  coals  produced  in the Community,  another  hav-
ing been  moves  in rates,  of exchange.  Thus,  although 
German  coal  prices  remained  unaltered  throughout 
1976  and  1977,  the exchange  appreciation  of the DM 
caused  them  to rise  substantially  in terms  of the cur-
rencies  of most  other  Member  States  and  of imported 
energy  priced  in US dollars.  On the other  hand,  in spite 
of an average  price  increase  of 15 % for British  coal, 
this maintained  its competitive  lead  over  other  fuels  in 
the UK. 
2. Coking  coal 
The average  price  cif ARA  for third  country  coking 
coal,  the  so-called  indicative  price  calculated  by the 
Commission,  settled  at around  $ 62-10  per  tonne 
throughout  most  of 1977,  i. e. about  $ 1 lower  than  the 
No C 118/10 Official  Journal  of the European  Communities 22. 5. 78 
year before.  However,  this  drop  of around  3 % in dol-
lar terms  was  substantially  greater  in terms  of the cur-
rencies  of those  Community  countries  which  have  been 
appreciating  against  the dollar. 
Prices  of coking  coals  produced  in the Community  were 
generally  no more  than  some  10 to 15 % above  the 
Commission's  indicative  price  for import  contracts  from 
third  countries.  However,  the worldwide  recession  in 
the steel  industry  has  continued  to exert  downward 
pressures  on the spot  market,  resulting  in quantities  of 
third-country  coking  coal  an offer  at much  lower  prices 
with  disturbing  effects  on the  Community  industry's 
disposals. 
3. Steam  coal 
The tendency  of a rise in steam  coal  prices  of up to $ 5 
per tee above  the level  of 30 to $ 33 cif ARA  ruling 
through  most  of 1976,  apparent  at the end of that  year, 
did not  establish  itself.  Accordingly,  in terms  of the 
Community's  currencies,  world  market  prices  of coal 
for electricity  generation  remained  unchanged  or fell in 
1977,  depending  on relative  movements  in rates  of 
exchange.  They  thus  maintained  their  position  well 
below  the prices  of oil or gas competing  in the power-
station  market. 
In contrast  to the relatively  small  gap  between  Com-
munity  coking  coal  prices  and the Commission's  indica-
tive price  for third-country  imports,  the price  differen-
tial between  Community  and  third-country  steam  coal for the power-station  market  ranged  from  about  20 % 
for some  British  coals  to over  100  % for German  and 
Belgian  coal. 
Short  distances  between  coal  mines  and  power  stations 
in the  United  Kingdom  have  generally  enabled  the 
British  coal  industry  to compete  successfully  with  im-
ports  from  third  countries  and  to dispose  of its output 
to the  electricity  generating  industry  without  govern-
ment  subsidies.  However,  the other  Community  coal 
producers'  prices  have  been  so much  above  those  of 
imports  from  third  countries  that  most  of their  sales 
required  the  framework  of one  or another  kind  of 
government  intervention.  As  such  intervention  was 
operated  only  in the  coal-producing  Member  States 
and, in practice,  affected  only  each  country's  own  coal 
industry,  it did little  to develop  a genuine  Community 
market  in power  station  coal. 
4. Outlook  for 1978 
On 1 January  1978,  the German  coal  industry  raised  its 
list prices  by up to 10 % in spite  of adverse  market 
conditions.  This  rise,  like  those  of a similar  order  of 
magnitude  likely  later  in the year  in the other  coal-pro-
ducing  Member  States,  has been  forced  on the industry 
by rising  costs. 
The problem  of rising  costs  forcing  the Community  coal 
industry  to raise  prices,  while  market  conditions  dictate 
price  stability  or reductions,  will  probably  be the most 
intractable  problem  in the  field  of pricing  policy  in 
1978. 
VI. COKE 
1. Development  of coking  capacity 
(Table  21) 
In the course  of 1977,  the Community's  coking  capacity 
was reduced  from  92 to 89 2 million  tonnes  per annum 
primarily  through  closures  in Germany. 
In the Ruhr,  cokeries  Radbod  and  Hugo  with  a total 
capacity  of 11 million  tonnes  per  annum  were  shut 
down  at the start  of the year,  and a further  two cokeries 
— Friedrich  Thyssen  and Konigsborn  — were  closed  at 
its end.  The  reasons  were  the current  depressed  state  of 
the steel  industry,  combined  with  the long-term  trend 
towards  integrated  steel-works  with  their  own  coke-
ovens;  no replacement  of the closed-down  facilities  is, 
therefore,  currently  envisaged. 
In 1978,  the closure  of coke  ovens  at Vendin  in the 
north  of France  will  reduce  French  capacity  by 0 8 
million  tonnes  and  further  closures  in the Ruhr  will diminish  German  coking  capacity  by  another  2-2 
million  tonnes.  By contrast,  new  coke  ovens  with  a 
capacity  of nearly  two  million  tonnes  are planned  to be 
put into  service  by the British  Steel  Corporation. 
2. Coke  production  and  coal  supplies  to cokeries 
(Tables  22 and  23) 
Although  coke-oven  coke  consumption  in the  Com-
munity  in 1977  was  some  20 million  tonnes  lower  than 
in 1974,  production  has  been  reduced  by only  6-5 
million  tonnes  in 1976  and  by about  14 million  tonnes 
in 1977,  compared  to its 1974  level. 
Traditionally,  the  German  coal  industry  lays  down 
substantial  stocks  of coke  during  periods  of slack 
demand,  but excessive  stocks  building  up over  the past 
22. 5. 78 Official  Journal  of the European  Communities No C 118/11 
three  years  have  increasingly  forced  the Community's 
coke  production  level  more  into  line  with  consumption. 
About  half  the contraction  in coke  production  has taken place  in Germany,  the  remainder  being  spread  fairly 
evenly  over  Belgium,  France,  Italy,  the Netherlands  and 
the United  Kingdom. 
VII. TRADE  IN COAL  AND  COKE 
1. Intra-Community  trade 
(Tables  24 and  25) 
Traditionally,  Germany  has  occupied  a position  of 
overwhelming  importance  as a supplier  of coal  and coke 
to other  Member  States,  but  this  position  has  been 
progressively  eroded  primarily  for  the  reasons  men-
tioned  in the previous  chapter.  During  the period  of 
peak  activity  in the steel  industry  in 1974,  coal  de-
liveries  from  Germany  to other  Community  countries 
amounted  to 16-5  million  tonnes,  plus  eight  million 
tonnes  of coke,  making  a total  of 26 8 million  tonnes 
with coke  reckoned  at its coal  equivalent.  As shown  in 
Table  24, German  intra-Community  coal  deliveries  in 
1978  are presently  expected  to be 13-5  million  tonnes 
and those  of coke  to be 4 4 million  tonnes,  making  a 
total  of 19 2 million  tonnes  with  coke  reckoned  as coal. 
However,  as explained  below,  this  figure  may  turn  out 
to be higher  as a result  of additional  sales  to the elec-
tricity  generating  industry. 
Intra-Community  deliveries  by the United  Kingdom,  the 
second  largest  source  for this trade,  have  been  following 
a different  course.  Due  to a strike  in 1974,  the UK coal 
industry  was  unable  to benefit  from  the seller's  market 
for both  coking  coal  and  power  station  coal  that  year, 
while  poor  productivity  combined  with  strong  demand 
from  the British  electricity  generating  industry  have  left 
little  exportable  surplus  in subsequent  years. 
As a result,  UK  deliveries  in the  intra-Community 
market  have  been  fluctuating  between  13 and  two 
million  tonnes  between  1974  and  1977,  while  those  of 
coke  have  remained  insignificant.  However,  forecasts  of 
coal deliveries  to other  Community  countries  for 1978 
at 2 3 million  tonnes  suggest  the possibility  of the de-
velopment  of an upward  trend,  which  might  become 
stronger  towards  the later  part  of the year  as a result  of 
a hoped  for  rise  in productivity  in the  British  coal 
industry. 
The basic  difference  between  developments  in German 
and British  intra-Community  coal  deliveries  during  the 
past years  lies in the fact  that  whereas  the former  have 
been  primarily  to the steel  industry,  currently  experienc-
ing a prolonged  period  of depression,  the British  coal 
industry  produces  mainly  coal  suitable  for the expand-ing market  of electricity  generation.  However,  German 
coal producers  are increasingly  active  in attempting  to 
secure  coal  supply  contracts  to the Community's  elec-
tricity  industry,  and  further  success  in this  direction 
might  result  in the estimate  of intra-Community  de-
liveries  in 1978  given  in Table  24 being  exceeded. 
Among  recipients  in intra-Community  coal  exchanges, 
Denmark  and  France  have  shown  the most  promising 
developments  in 1977,  which  are expected  to continue 
in 1978.  In both  these  countries,  coal  consumption  for 
electricity  generation  has risen  steeply  since  1973.  After 
a period  of practically  the whole  of this  increase  being 
met through  expanded  third  country  imports,  the 
German  coal  industry  is beginning  to secure  a growing 
share  of these  markets. 
Nevertheless,  neither  these  improvements  in German 
sales  to power  stations  in other  Member  States  nor the 
modest  rise  forecast  for UK  deliveries  are doing  more 
than very  partially  reversing  the trend  of the past  few 
years  of shrinking  intra-Community  trade  in coal  and 
coke  while  imports  from  third  countries  have  risen 
steeply.  The  basic  reason  for  the  difficulties  of the 
Community's  own  coal  industry  in finding  new  outlets 
in the expanding  market  for power  station  coal  as a 
substitute  for the contracting  opportunities  in the steel 
industry  lies in the high  cost  of much  Community  coal 
production,  compounded,  in some  instances,  by geo-
graphical  factors  giving  rise  to heavy  transportation 
charges. 
2. Imports  from  third  countries 
(Tables  26 and  27) 
After  a rise  in coal  imports  from  outside  the  Com-
munity  of some  50 % in the years  following  1973,  these 
appear  now  to be reaching  stability  at between  43 and 
45 million  tonnes  per annum. 
The motor  behind  this  expansion  has been  a near  trip-
ling of steam  coal  imports,  practically  all for electricity 
generation,  from  eight  million  tonnes  in 1973  to about 
23 million  tonnes  in 1977.  By contrast,  imports  of cok-
ing coal  have  generally  not moved  far from  17 to 18 
No C 118/12 Official  Journal  of the European  Communities 22. 5. 78 
million  tonnes,  while  those  for the miscellaneous  indus-
trial and  domestic  markets  have  shown  a downward 
trend.  However,  during  the same  period,  intra-Com-
munity  deliveries  of coal  and  coke,  mainly  for the steel 
industry,  have  dropped  by 25 %. 
Among  Member  States,  France  has registered  by far the 
largest  rise  in coal  imports  from  third  countries. 
Whereas  these  stood  at only  slightly  above  five  million 
tonnes  in 1973,  the figure  for 1977  is over  15 million 
tonnes.  Elsewhere,  rises  have  been  much  more  modest, 
generally  not  greatly  exceeding  one  million  tonnes, 
while  imports  into  some  Member  States  have  hardly 
risen  at all. 
During  the same  period,  there  has  been  a movement 
towards  diversification  in regard  to countries  of origin. 
While  in 1973,  75 % of coal  from  outside  the Com-
munity  came  from  either  the USA  or Poland,  the percen-tage of deliveries  from  these  two  countries  had 
dropped  to under  58 % by 1977.  Imports  from  the 
USSR,  mainly  for the general  industrial  domestic  mar-
kets,  have  shown  little  change,  but those  from  Australia 
( and South  Africa  have  risen  steeply.  Furthermore,  vari-
ous other  coal-producing  countries,  notably  India,  have 
shown  keen  interest  in following  up trial  sales  to the 
Community's  electricity  producers  with  larger  de-
liveries. 
Forecasts  for  1978  show  a slightly  falling  trend  for 
imports  of coking  coal  and no change  for those  destined 
primarily  for power  stations.  However,  there  is a possi-
bility  of further  substitution  of the latter  through  in-
creased  intra-Community  exchanges,  provided  the par-
ties can  find  ways  of resolving  the difficulties  arising 
from  price  differences  between  Community  and  third-
country  coal. 
VIII.  COAL  AND  COKE  STOCKS 
(Tables  28, 29 and  30) 
In view  of the growing  importance  of the coal  supply 
position  for the Community's  electricity  generating  in-
dustry  and,  conversely,  of the financial  burdens  on the 
coal industry  arising  from  excessive  pithead  stocks,  the 
Commission's  annual  reports  on the Community  coal 
market  have  been  providing  increasingly  detailed  tables 
on coal  and  coke  stocks. 
Accordingly,  last  year's  report  introduced  separate 
tables  for end  of year  producers'  coal  and  coke  stocks 
(Table  28) and  for coal  stocks  at power  stations  (Table 
29). A further  pair  of tables  has now  been  added,  show-
ing producers'  stocks  of coal  by country,  type  and  de-
gree of preparation  (Table  30 A) and by country,  coal-
field  and  type  (Table  30 B). However,  as at the time  of 
writing  this  report,  this  detailed  information  was  avail-
able only  for the end of September  1977,  the position  at 
that date  is given  in Tables  30 A and B, whereas  the 
totals  on Table  28 A are end of year  figures. 
1. Producers'  coal  and  coke  stocks 
(Tables  28 and  29) 
Table  28 clearly  show  the very  special  problems  cur-
rently  affecting  the German  coal  industry  in carrying 
combined  coal  and  coke  stocks  of over  36 million 
tonnes,  about  10 million  tonnes  of these  for the Gov-ernment's  account  in the so-called  'Notgemeinschaft'. 
36 million  tonnes  are close  on 40 % of German  produc-
tion in 1977,  compared  to end of year  producers'  stocks 
representing  32 % of production  in France,  13 % in 
Belgium  and  12 % in the UK. 
Tables28  B, showing  stocks  of coke,  and  30 A, giving  a 
breakdown  of producers'  stocks  by types  of coal, 
demonstrate  the connection  between  high  stocks  and 
the depressed  state  of the steel  industry.  Thus  in Ger-
many,  out of total  stocks  of some  36 million  tonnes, 
at least  30 million  tonnes  consist  either  of coke  or of 
coals  of types  V and  VI, generally  considered  as coking 
coal,  and  the same  applies  in France  with  regard  to five 
million  tonnes  out of total  stocks  of 6 8 million  tonnes. 
The fundamental  reasons  for  current  excessive  pro-
ducers'  stocks  of coal  and  coke  lie in the fact  that  while 
production  costs  permit  a high  proportion  of Com-
munity  coal  to be offered  at prices  which  are not un-
bridgeably  out  of line  with  those  ruling  on the world 
..coking  coal  market,  they  are far too high  to be accept-
able to electricity  producers  able  to purchase  third-
country  steam  coal.  The  sole  \ exception  to this  is the 
situation  in the UK. 
Accordingly,  coking  coal  production  not  currently  re-
quired  by the steel  industry  cannot  be disposed  of for 
electricity  generation  without  very  large  subsidies  or 
government  intervention,  either  of which  currently 
apply  only  to the promotion  of coal-bum  within  the 
coal-producing  Member  States. 
22. 5. 78 Official  Journal  of the European  Communities No C 118/13 
2. Coal  stocks  at power  stations 
(Table  30) 
Stocks  carried  by the electricity  industry  at the end  of 
1977  ranged  from  79 days'  supplies  in the UK to 230 
days'  in Denmark. 
Security  of supplies  considerations  lead  electricity 
generating  concerns  relying  on imported  coal  to carry 
larger  stocks  than  those  close  to their  own  sources  of supplies.  This  tendency  is reflected  in Table  30, except 
for unusually  large  stocks  at Belgian  power  stations; 
these  are due to a shift  of pithead  stocks  as can be seen 
from  Tables  28 and  29. 
In the absence  of any  indications  of likely  industrial 
unrest  in the  Community's  coal  industry  during  the 
early  part  of 1978  or of disturbances  in the  world 
energy  market,  the  coal  stocks  carried  by the  Com-
munity's  electricity  generating  industry  at the end  of 
1977  appear  generally  satisfactory. 
No C 118/14 Official  Journal  of the European  Communities 22. 5. 78 
TABLE  1 
Shares  of the various  forms  of primary  energy  in gross  internal  energy  consumption 
(%) 
Coal 
and 
equivalent Brown  coal 
and 
equivalent Oil 
and 
equivalent Natural 
gas Nuclear Electricity 
and 
others  (') 
1976 
Belgium 22-2 — 54-3 20-1 5-0 — 1-6 
Denmark 14-5 — 84 6 — — 0-9 
Germany  (FR) 19-8 10-1 52-4 14-0 2-1 1-6 
France 16 1 0-6 64 9 9-9 2-0 6-5 
Ireland 7-3 13-7 76-7 — — 2-3 
Italy 6-3 0-2 69-2 16-6 0-6 7-1 
Luxembourg 410 0-4 310 8-8 — 18-8 
Netherlands 4 8 — 42-5 51-0 1-3 0-4 
United  Kingdom 35-4 — 43 2 16-6 4-0 0-8 
Community 19-5 3-2 55-3 16-7 2-3 3-0 
1977  (x) 
Belgium 21 1 — 56-4 20-3 4-8 — 2-6 
Denmark 15-4 — 85-5 — — — 0-9 
Germany  (FR) 18 6 9-2 51-6 15-0 3-5 2-1 
France 16 6 0-5 60-4 10-8 2-5 9-2 
Ireland 7 8 12-9 78-4 — — 0-9 
Italy 5-8 02 68-3 15-9 0-6 9-2 
Luxembourg 37-8 0-3 32-0 8-3 — 21-6 
Netherlands 4-9 — 38-5 55-6 1-3 — 0-1 
United  Kingdom 344 — 43-0 17-1 5-0 0-5 
Community 19-0 2-8 53-9 17-5 3-0 3-8 
(x) Estimates  made  on 14 December  1977. 
(') Electricity  production  plus  imports  minus  exports. 
22. 5. 78 Official  Journal  of the European  Communities No C 118/15 
TABLE  2 
Gross  domestic  product  in terms  of volume 
f% variation  compared  with  previous  year) 
1976 1977 1978 
Belgium 3 0 2-4 2-3 
Denmark 4-8 0-9 1-5 
Germany  (FR) 5-6 2-6 3-1 
France 5-2 23 2-7 
Ireland 3-2 5-6 6-0 
Italy 5-6 1-8 1-7 
Luxembourg 2-8 1-1 1-4 
Netherlands 4-6 2-4 2-1 
United  Kingdom 2-8 0-1 3-5 
Community 4-8 1-9 2-8 
TABLE  3 A 
Community  coal  consumption  by sector 
(1 000 tonnes  of coal  equivalent) 
1976 
(actual) 1977 
(estimates) 1978 
(forecasts) 1977/76 
(%) 1978/77 
(%) 
Power  stations 
Coke  ovens 
Iron and  steel  industry 
Other  industries 
Domestic  heating 
Patent  fuel  plants 
Own  consumption  at mines 
Gasworks 
Others 
Total  (2 118 361 
99 400 
3 296 
10 375 
20 266 
5 296 
2 206 
1 396 
2 043(M 
262 639 120 839 
89 710 
2 645 
12 965 
19 933 
4 915 
2 162 
1 265 
1 288 126 836 
88 410 
2 700 
13 070 
18 415 
4 305 
2 320 
1 155 
1 145 + 2 1 
— 9-7 
— 19 7 
+ 25  0 
— 3 5 
— 7-2 
— 2-0 
— 9 4 
— 370 
255 722 258 356 2-7 + 5-0 
— 14 
+ 2-1 
+ 0-8 
— 8-2 
— 12-4 
+ 7-3 
— 8-7 
— 11-1 
+ 1-0 
f1) Including  statistical  adjustments. 
(2) There  is a slight  inconsistency  between  these  figures  and  the percentages  for coal  consumption  in Table  1 as the latter 
takes  account  of coke  put to stock  whereas  all coal  converted  into  coke  is here  treated  as coal  consumed.  This  different 
treatment  also  explains  why  coal  consumption  figures  in this  report  are  slightly  higher  than  those  shown  in the 
Commission's  report  on the  energy  situation  in the  Community. 
No C 118/16 Official  Journal  of the  European  Communities 22. 5. 78 
TABLE  3 B 
Community  coal  consumption  by country 
(1 000 tonnes  of coal  equivalent) 
1976 1977 1978 1977/76 1978/77 
(actual) (estimates) (forecasts) (%) (%) 
Belgium 13 699 13 111 13 145 — 4 3 + 0-2 
Denmark 3 904 4 525 5 043 + 15-9 + 11-4 
Germany  (FR) 82 900 75 373 75 529 — 9-1 
+ 
o N> 
France 38 540 37 887 38 744 — 1 *7 + 2-3 
Ireland 705 752 763 + 67 + 1-5 
Italy 12 536 11 171 11 846 — 10 9 + 6-4 
Luxembourg 618 608 606 — 16 — 0-3 
Netherlands 4 794 5 263 5 640 + 9-8 + 7-2 
United  Kingdom 104 943 107 032 107 040 + 2-0 — 
Community 262 639 255 722 258 356 — 2-7 + 1-0 
TABLE  4 
Pig iron  production 
(1 000  tonnes) 
1976 1977 1978 1977/76 1978/77 
(actual) (estimates) (forecasts) (%) (%) 
Belgium 9 961 8 725 9 200 — 12-4 + 5-4 
Germany  (FR) 31 849 29 000 30 000 — 9-0 + 3-4 
Fran  e 19 024 18 350 18 800 — 3-5 + 2-5 
Italy 11 696 11 600 11 225 — 0-8 — 3 2 
Luxembourg 3 756 3 700 3 925 — 1-5 + 6-1 
Netherlands 4 265 4 125 4 175 — 3-3 + 1-2 
United  Kingdom 14 099 12 875 13 550 — 8-7 + 5-2 
Community 94 650 88 375 90 875 — 66 + 2-8 
22. 5. 78 Official  Journal  of the  European  Communities No C 118/17 
TABLE  5 
Specific  coke  input  in blast  furnaces 
(kilograms  per  tonne) 
1976 1977 1978 
(actual) (estimates) (forecasts) 
Belgium 539 540 540 
Germany  (FR) 482 490 490 
France 520 502 500 
Italy 470 460 450 
Luxembourg 493 485 475 
Netherlands 441 450 450 
United  Kingdom 601 590 590 
Community 520 506 505 
TABLE  6 
Consumption  of coke-oven  coke  in the  iron  and  steel  industry 
(1 000  tonnes 
1976 1977 1978 1977/76 1978/77 
(actual) (estimates) (forecasts) (%) (%) 
Belgium 6 134 5 310 5 570 — 13 4 + 4-9 
Denmark 29 40 40 — — 
Germany  (FR) 18 099 16 790 17 400 — 7-2 + 3-6 
France 11 010 10 340 10 525 — 6 1 + 1-8 
Ireland — 10 10 — — 
Italy 6 399 6 200 5 900 — 3 1 — 4*8 
Luxembourg 2 114 2 055 2 125 — 2 8 + 3-4 
Netherlands 2 071 2 055 2 080 — 0 8 + 1-2 
United  Kingdom 9832 9 100 9 500 — 7°5 + 4-4 
Community 55 688 51900 53 150 — 6 8 + 2-4 
Details: 
Input  in blast  furnaces 48 233 44 720 45 860 — 7-3 + 2-5 
Sintering 6 966 6 675 6 755 — 4-2 + 12 
Others 490 505 535 + 3-1 + 59 
No C 118/18 Official  Journal  of the  European  Communities 22. 5. 78 
TABLE  7 
Community  coke-oven  coke  consumption  by sector 
(1 000  tonnes 
1976 1977 1978 1977/76 1978/77 
(actual) (estimates) (forecasts) (%) (%) 
Iron and  steel  industry 55 688 51 900 53 150 — 6-8 + 24 
Other  industries 4 578 4 762 4 738 + 4 0 — 05 
Domestic  heating 5 132 4 950 4 634 — 3-4 — 6 4 
Others 1 657 1 160 1 140 — — 1-7 
Total 67 055 62 772 63 662 — 6 4 + 1-4 
(') The  figures  in this  line  include  statistical  adjustments  and  therefore  have  only  limited  significance  as regards  develop-
ments  from  one  year  to another. 
22.5.78 Official  Journal  of the European  Communities No C 118/19 
TABLE  8 A 
Gross  electricity  generated  in the Community 
Breakdown  by energy  sources 
Production  generated 
TW h Breakdown  in % 
% change 
(actual) (estimates) (forecasts) (actual) (estimates) (forecasts) % change 
1976 1977 1978 1976 1977 1978 1977/76 1978/77 
Gross  production  in: 
Belgium 47-3 47-6 51-2 + 0-6 + 7-6 
Denmark 20 9 22-6 24 2 + 8-5 + 6-8 
Germany  (FR) 333-7 338-8 350-9 + 1-5 + 3-6 
France 203-4 216-3 233-6 + 63 8-0 
Ireland 8-6 9-3 9-9 + 8 0 + 6-8 
Italy 163-6 168-0 182-3 + 2-7 + 8-5 
Luxembourg 1-5 1-4 1-6 9-9 + 16-9 
Netherlands 58-1 58-9 633 + 1-3 + 7-5 
United  Kingdom 277-0 288-4 294-7 + 4-1 + 2-2 
Total 1 114-1 1 151-3 1 211-7 100 100 100 + 3-3 + 5-3 
Hydroelectric  total 111-3 150-6 132-3 10-5 13 1 10 9 + 35-3 — 12-1 
From: 
— natural  flow 105-3 144-8 124-6 9-9 12-6 10-3 + 37-6 14-0 
— pumped  storage 6-0 5-8 7-7 0-6 0-5 0-6 — 3-4 + 32-9 
Geothermal 2-5 2-5 2-7 0-2 0-2 0-2 — 0-9 + 8 0 
Nuclear 93 9 121-9 154-7 3-1 10-6 12-8 + 29-9 + 26-9 
Conventional  thermal  total 906-4 876-3 922-0 81-2 76 1 76 1 ' 3-3 + 5-2 
From 
— hard  coal  and  coke 343-7 353-0 371-4 306 30-7 307 + 2-7 + 5-2 
— lignite  and  peat 104-3 966 921 9-2 8-4 7-6 — 7-4 — 4-6 
— oil 283-8 259-0 282-5 25 6 22-5 23-3 — 8-7 + 9-1 
— natural  gas 141-8 136-0 143-4 12-9 11-8 11-8 — 4-1 + 5-5 
— derived  gases 25-6 25-5 26 1 2-3 2-2 2-2 — 0-4 + 2-4 
— other  fuels 7-1 6-2 6-5 0-6 0-5 0-5 12-6 + 4-5 
No C 118/20 Official  Journal  of the  European  Communities 22. 5. 78 
TABLE  8 B 
Fuel  consumption  by conventional  power  plants  and  coverage  of requirements  in % 
1976 1977 1978 
(actual) (estimates) (forecasts) /o change 
1 000  tee  | % , 1 000  tee % 1 000  tee % 1977/76 1978/77 
Belgium 
Coal 2 706 219 3 096 260 3 235 25-0 + 14-4 + 4-5 
Lignite — — — — — 
Oil products 3 382 43-5 4 460 37-5 5 110 39-4 — 17-1 + 14-6 
Natural  gas 3 268 26 4 3 351 28 2 3 566 27-5 + 2-5 + 6-4 
Other  fuels 1 017 8-2 992 8 3 1 045 8-1 — 2-5 + 5-3 
Total 12 373 100-0 11 899 1000 12 956 100-0 — 3-8 + 8  9 
Denmark 
Coal 3 356 47-3 3 914 51-5 4 443 546 + 16-6 + 13-5 
Lignite — — — — — — — 
Oil products 3 745 527 3 691 48-5 3 691 45-4 — 1-4 — 
Natural  gas — — — — — — 
Other  fuels — — — — — — — — 
Total 7 101 100-0 7 605 100-0 8 134 100-0 + 7-1 o 
r^ 
+ 
Germany  (FR) 
Coal 32 591 32-4 31 143 32-5 32 629 34-4 — 4-4 + 4-8 
Lignite 34 600 34-4 31 571 33-0 29 714 31-3 — 8*8 — 5-9 
Oil products 10 693 10-6 10 857 11-3 10 586 11-1 + 1-5 — 2-5 
Natural  gas 17 451 17-3 17 129 17-9 16 857 17-7 — 18 — 1*6 
Other  fuels 5 279 5-3 5 059 5-3 5 204 5-5 — 4-2 + 2-9 
Total 100 614 100-0 95 759 100-0 94 990 100-0 — 4-8 — 0-8 
France 
Coal 14 953 34-5 15 457 40 2 16 814 38 7 + 3-4 + 8-8 
Lignite 1 259 29 997 2-6 1 164 2-7 — 20-8 + 16  8 
Oil products 21 438 49 5 16 389 42-6 19 881 45-7 — 23-6 + 21-3 
Natural  gas 3 105 7-2 3 076 8-0 3 076 7-1 — 0-9 — 
Other  fuels 2 544 5-9 2 539 6-6 2 524 5-8 — 0-2 — 06 
Total 43 299 100-0 38 458 100-0 43 459 100-0 — 11-2 + 13-0 
Ireland 
Coal 37 1-3 27 0-9 38 1-2 — 27-0 + 40-7 
Peat 985 342 1 041 33 6 1 041 317 + 5-7 — 
Oil products 1 857 64-5 2 031 65 5 2 206 67 1 + 9-4 oo 
+ 
Natural  gas — — — — — — — — 
Other  fuels — — — — — — — — 
Total 2 879 100 -0 3 099 100-0 3 285 100-0 + 7-6 + 6-0 
22. 5. 78 Official  Journal  of the European  Communities No C 118/21 
TABLE  8 B (cont'd) 
Fuel  consumption  by conventional  power  plants  and  coverage  of require  men  f in % 
1976 
(actual) 1977 
(estimates) 1978 
(forecasts) % change 
1 000  tee % 1 000 tee % 1 000 tee % 1977/76 1978/77 
Italy 
Coal 
Lignite 
Oil products 
Natural  gas 
Other  fuels 1 195 
463 
28 676 
4 457 
1 566 3 3 
13 
78-9 
122 
43 1 171 
343 
27 000 
3 514 
1 543 3-5 
1-0 
804 
10-5 
46 2 286 
457 
30 129 
5 000 
1 557 5-8 
1-2 
76-4 
12-7 
3-9 — 2-0 
— 25-9 
— 5-8 
— 21-2 
— 1-5 + 95-2 
+ 33-2 
+ 11-6 
+ 42-3 
+ 0-9 
Total 36 357 100-0 33 571 100-0 39 429 100-0 — 7-7 + 17-4 
Luxembourg 
Coal 
Lignite 
Oil products 
Natural  gas 
Other  fuels 1 
98 
190 
176 0-2 
211 
40-9 
37-8 1 
96 
195 
175 0-2 
20 6 
418 
37-4 1 
97 
197 
170 0-2 
209 
42-4 
365 — 2-0 
+ 26 
+ 0-6 + 1-0 
+ 1-0 
— 2*9 
Total 465 100-0 467 100-0 465 100-0 4- 0-4 — 04 
Netherlands 
Coal 
Lignite 
Oil products 
Natural  gas 
Other  fuels 999 
1 589 
13 944 
1 044 5-7 
9-0 
79-3 
6-0 1 643 
1 700 
13 453 
950 9*2 
9-6 
75-8 
5-4 2 000 
1 907 
14 224 
1 064 10-4 
9-9 
74-1 
5-6 + 64-5 
+ 7-0 
— 3*5 
— 9-0 -f 21*7 
+ 12-2 
+ 5-7 
+ 12*0 
Total 17 576 100-0 17 746 100-0 19 195 100-0 + i-o + 8-2 
United  Kingdom 
Coal 
Lignite 
Oil products 
Natural  gas 
Other  fuels 62 523 
16 986 
2 519 
844 75-4 
205 
3-1 
1-0 64 387 
15 230 
2 179 
871 77-9 
18 4 
2-6 
1-1 65 390 
15 337 
2 200 
879 78-0 
18 3 
2-6 
1-1 + 3-0 
— 10-3 
— 13-5 
+ 3-2 + 1-6 
+ 0-7 
+ 1-0 
+ 0-9 
Total 82 872 100-0 82 667 100-0 83 806 100-0 — 0-3 + 1-4 
Community 
Coal 
Lignite 
Oil products 
Natural  gas 
Other  fuels 118 361 
37 307 
90 464 
44 934 
12 470 390 
123 
29 8 
14 8 
41 120 839 
33 952 
81 454 
42 897 
12 129 41-5 
11-7 
28 0 
147 
4-2 126 836 
32 376 
88 944 
45 120 
12 443 415 
106 
29 1 
14-7 
4-1 + 2-1 
— 90 
— 10-0 
— 4-5 
— 2*7 + 5-0 
— 46 
+ 9-2 
+ 3-2 
+ 2-6 
Total 303 536 100-0 291 271 100-0 305 719 100-0 — 5-0 + 5-0 
No C 118/22 Official  Journal  of the  European  Communities 22. 5. 78 
TABLE  8 C 
Coal  supplies  to public  power  plants 
(This  table  does  not  include  supplies  to power  stations  owned  by the  coal  industry  nor  auto-
producers) 
(1 000 tonnes) 
National 
coal Coal  from 
other  ECSC 
countries Total 
ECSC 
coal Coal  from 
third 
countries Total 
supplies 
Belgium  (*) 1975 1 374 349 1 723 465 2 188 
1976 1 934 175 2 109 497 2 606 
1977 2 720 335 3 055 600 3 655 
Denmark 1975 — —- — 3 454 3 454 
1976 — 5 5 3 366 3 371 
1977 — 800 800 3 590 4 390 
Germany  (FR) 1975 18 847 725 19 572 3 774 23 346 
1976 25 050 753 25 803 3 617 29 420 
1977 24 250 750 25 000 4 000 29 000 
France 1975 2 549 894 3 443 4 521 7 964 
1976 3 316 562 3 878 6 918 10 796 
1977 3 500 1 500 5 000 10 000 15 000 
Italy 1975 — — 1 007 1 007 
1976 — — — 1 179 1 179 
1977 — — — 1 800 1 800 
Netherlands 1975 8 8 22 30 
1976 10 49 59 937 996 
1977 — 100 100 1 150 1 125 
United  Kingdom 1975 74 755 2 74 757 4 130 78 887 
1976 78 139 67 78 206 1 254 79 460 
1977 78 850 100 78 950 1 300 80 250 
Community 1975 97 525 1 978 99 503 17 373 116 876 
1976 108 449 1 611 110 060 17 768 127 828 
1977 109 320 3 585 112 905 22 440 135 345 
(*).Not  including  shale  recuperation. 
22.5.78 Official  Journal  of the European  Communities No C 118/23 
TABLE  9 
Coal  and  coke-oven  coke  consumption  in various  industries  (*) 
(not including  power  stations) 
(1 000 tonnes) 
1976 1977 1978 1977/76 1978/77 
(actual) (estimates) (forecasts) (%) (%) 
Belgium 1 227 1 165 990 — 5 1 — 150 
Denmark 477 460 455 — 3 6 — 11 
Germany  (FR) 3 187 3 360 3 350 + 54 — 0 3 
France 2 527 2 700 2 900 -f- 6 8 + 7-4 
Ireland 30 30 30 — — 
Italy 572 640 640 + 11  9 — 
Luxembourg 1 3 3 — — 
Netherlands 422 295 295 — 30 1 — 
United  Kingdom 7 040(2) 9 020 9 145 + 28  in -f 14 
Community 15 483 17 673 17 808 — + 0  8 
(') Coke-oven  coke  assigned  a value  of unity. 
(*) Provisional  figures. 
No C 118/24 Official  Journal  of the  European  Communities 22. 5. 78 
TABLE  10 
Deliveries  of solid  fuels  for domestic  heating 
(including  issues  to mineworkers) 
(million  tonnes  of coal  equivalent) 
1976 1977 1978 1977/76 1978/77 
(actual) (estimates) (forecasts) % % 
Belgium 20 1-9 1-7 — 3-5 — 11-9 
of which:  coal 1-7 1-6 1-4 — 39 — 13 2 
patent  fuel 02 0-2 0-2 — 2-1 — 4-3 
coke 0 1 0 1 0-1 + 11-1 — 
Denmark 0 1 0 1 0-1 — 4-2 — 0-9 
Germany  (FR) 78 7-2 66 — 80 — 7-5 
of which:  coal 16 14 1-3 — 14-3 — 7-1 
patent  fuel 11 11 1-0 — 69 — 4-8 
coke 2-4 23 2-2 — 3-1 — 60 
lignite  and  briquettes 2-6 24 2-1 — 8-9 — 10-4 
France 6-3 5-8 5-2 — 8-7 — 10-2 
of which:  coal 3-3 3-0 2-7 — 10-6 — 8-5 
patent  fuel 2 6 2-4 2-1 — 6-1 — 12-5 
coke 0 3 0-3 0-3 — 8-5 — 7-5 
lignite  and  briquettes 0 1 0-1 0-1 — 13 2 — 12-0 
Ireland 0-9 0-9 0-9 + 5-8 — 0-5 
of which:  coal  and  coke 06 0-7 0-7 + 9-2 — 
peat and  briquettes 03 0-2 0-2 — 1-8 — 1-8 
Italy 0-5 0-4 0-4 — 8-6 — 10-1 
of which:  coal  and  patent  fuel 03 0-2 0-2 — 192 — 24-3 
coke 02 0-2 0-2 — — 
Netherlands 0 1 0-1 0-1 — 7-6 — 12 8 
United  Kingdom 16 7 16-7 15-4 — 7-7 
of which:  coal 12-7 13-0 12-1 + 2-3 — 7-0 
patent"  fuel 11 1-0 0 8 — 13 9 — 18-0 
coke 2-9 2-7 2-5 — 6-3 — 8-1 
Community 34-4 33 2 30-5 — 3-5 — 8-2 
of which:  coal 20-3 19-9 18-4 — 2-0 — 7-5 
patent  fuel 5-1 4-7 4-2 — 7-8 — 11-6 
coke 59 56 5-3 — 4-8 — 6-7 
lignite  and  peat 3-1 3-0 26 — 6*6 — 8-5 
NB:  Difference  due  to rounding  off. 
22. 5. 78 Official  Journal  of the  European  Communities No C 118/25 
TABLE  11 
Hard  coal  production  by areas 
(1 000 tonnes,  t = t) 
197 6 1977 1978 
(actual) (provisional) (forecasts) 
Campine 6 112 6 225 6 700 
Sud 1 126 815 715 
Belgium 7 238 7 040 7 415 
Ruhr 79 021 73 600 73 200 
Aachen 5 674 5 700 5 700 
Niedersachsen 2 007 2 000 2 000 
Saar 9 295 9 400 9 400 
Klienzechen 329 300 300 
Germany  (FR) 96 325 91 000 90 600 
(National  series) (89 269) (84 400) (84 0C0) 
Nord/Pas-de-Calais 7 318 6 600 5 700 
Lorraine 9 970 10 000 10 000 
Centre-Midi 4 591 4 600 4 200 
France 21 879 21 200 19 900 
Ireland 48 50 50 
Scotland 9 370 8 500 
North  East 13 418 12 700 
Yorkshire 31 096 31 100 
North  West 11 594 10 800 
Midlands 36 320 35 800 
South  Wales 7 866 7 400 
Licensed  mines  and  opencast 12 538 13 100 
United  Kingdom 122 202 119 400 119 900 
Community 247 693 238 400 237 800 
(National  series) (240 637) (232 090) (231 265) 
No C 118/26 Official  Journal  of the  European  Communities 22. 5. 78 
TABLE  12 
Hard  coal  production 
(1 000 tonnes  of coal  equivalent) 
1976 1977 1978 % changes 
(actual) (provisional) (forecasts) 
1977/76 1978/77 
Belgium 6 491 6 310 6 650 — 2-8 + 5 4 
Germany  (FR) 90 158 85 170 84 800 — 5*5 — 03 
France 19 870 19 250 18 075 — 3 1 — 6 1 
Ireland 49 50 50 — — 
United  Kingdom 110 127 107 250 108 000 — 2 6 + 0-7 
Community 226 695 218 030 217 575 — 3 8 — 0-2 
TABLE  13 
Average  number  of miners  working  below  ground 
(1 000s) 
1976 1977 1978 Changes  1977/76 Changes  1978/77 
(actual) (estimates) (forecasts) 
1 000 men % 1 000 men % 
Belgium 17-7 16-5 15-6 — 1-2 — 6*8 — 0 9 — 5-5 
Germany  (FR) 105-8 103-0 101-5 — 2-8 — 2-7 — 1-5 — 1*5 
France 38 0 35-8 32 0 — 2-2 — 58 — 3 8 —10-6 
United  Kingdom 169-8 168-8 170-0 — 1-0 — 06 + 1-2 + 07 
Community 331-3 324-1 319-1 — 7-2 — 2*2 — 5-0 — 1-5 
22. 5. 78 Official  Journal  of the European  Communities No C 118/27 
TABLE  14 
Output  per underground  manshift 
Kilograms  per  manshift % change 
1976 
(actual) 1977 
(estimates) 1978 
(forecasts) 1977/76 1978/77, 
Belgium 2 524 2 655 2 930 + 52 + 10 4 
Germany  (FR) 4 153 4170 4 300 + 04 + 3 1 
France 2 781 3 057 3 241 + 9-9 + 60 
United  Kingdom 3 406 3 340 3 400 — 2 0 + 18 
TABLE  15 
Production  costs  and  revenue  per tonne 
(% variations  according  to data  supplied  in national  currencies) 
Production  costs Revenue 
1976/75 1977/76 
(provisional) 1976/75 1977/76 
(provisional) 
Belgium + 6-2 + 3-6 — 1*9 — 4-2 
Germany  (FR) + 70 + 6-0 + 9-2 — 1*2 
France + 12-4 + 7-7 + 3-2 + 2-3 
United  Kingdom +24-6 + 17-3 +22-4 + 17-1 
TABLE  16 
State  aids  to the coal  industry 
(Direct  and  indirect  aids) 
(EUA  per  tonne) 
Direct  aids  (') Indirect  aids Total 
1976 1977 1976 1977 1976 1977 
Belgium 22-88 28-51 179 224 24-67 30-45 
Germany  (FR) 2-16 3 56 020 039 236 3-95 
France 13-27 19-51 023 026 13-50 19-77 
United  Kingdom 0 22 0-48 — — 0-22 0-48 
Community 280 4-11 0-15 024 295 4-35 
(') Including  aids  in respect  of coking  coal. 
No C 118/28 Official  Journal  of the  European  Communities 22. 5. 78 
TABLE  17 
Investments  in coal  production  and  preparation 
(million  EUA) 
1976 1977 1978  (') 
(actual) (estimates) (forecasts) 
Belgium 9-4 16-5 0-2 
Germany  (FR) 251-9 273 2 172-5 
France 45-4 52-5 46-8 
United  Kingdom 481-0 424-5 392-1 
Community 787-7 766-7 611-6 
0 Excluding  investments  not  formally  decided  or engaged. 
TABLE  18 
Pit closures 
1977 1978 
Number 1976  output 
(1000  tonnes) Number 1976  output 
(1000  tonnes) 
Belgium 
— Sud 2 228 1 115 
Germany  (FR) 
— Ruhr 1 2 110 
France 
— NPC — 3 1 303 
— Centre-Midi — 2 98 
United  Kingdom 
— Scotland 1 44 1 174 
— North  East 1 111 
— Western 1 223 
— South  Wales 2 144 
— Barnsley 
— South  Yorkshire — — 1 
1 200 
309 
Community 7 800 10 4 309 
N0:  1978  figures  given  for  the  UK  only  cover  the period  January  to 30 March  (end  of the  1977/78  fiscal  year). 
TABLE  19 
Listed  pithead  prices  for Community  coal  at 15 January  and  1 April  1977  and  1 January  1978 
(national  currency  per tonne) 
North 
Category Type Date Ruhr Aachen Saar Belgium Nord Lothringen South  Wales Scotland Yorkshire 
DM DM DM Bfrs FF FF £ £ * 
Anthracite Nuts  3- 15.1.1977 219-00 3 450 381-00 34-20 
20/30  mm 1.4.1977 219-00 — — 3 450 420-00 — 39-37 — — 
1.1.1978 236-00 — — 3 550 420-00 — 39-37 
Lean  coal Nuts  3 15.1.  1977 211-00 205-00 3 350 29-13 
20/30  mm 1.4. 1977 211-00 205-00 — 3 350 — — 33*66 — — 
%-iv/ 1. 1.1978 226-00 225-25 — 3 450 — — 33-66 — 
Semi-bituminous Nuts  4 15. 1.1977 167-00 181-00 
10/20  mm 1. 4.1977 167-00 181-00 — — — — — — — 
0—3/4" 1. 1.1978 182-00 198-75 — — — — — — 
Long  flame Nuts  2 15.1.1977 155-50 176-00 2 450 235-00 _ 26-08 22-05 Long  flame 
30/50  mm 1.4. 1977 155-50 — 176-00 2 450 — 250-00 — 29-82 25-20 
1—2" 1. 1.1978 170-50 192-00 2 450 250-00 — 29-82 25-20 
Long  flame Nuts  5 15. 1.1977 157-50 173-00 2 450 209-00  (2) 25-10 19-98 
6/10  mm 1.4.1977 157-50 — 173-00 2 450 — 223-00  (3) — 28-74 23-03 
1.1.1978 172-50 189-00 2 450 — 223-00  (3) — 28-74 23-03 
Coking  coal Medium  or 15.1.1977 165-50 167-50 180-00C) 2 050 320-00 338-00  (4) 33-27  (4) 27-07  (4) 25-10  (4 Coking  coal 
high 1.4.1977 165-50 167-50 180-00 2 050 340-00 360-00 38-29 31-30 29-04 
volatile 1.1.1978 175-50 184-00 190-00 2 105 340-00 360-00 38-29 31-30 29-04 
Coke Blast  furnace 15.1.1977 258-00 257-00 286-00 3 850  i1) 480-00 502-00 57-23 56-25 55-76 
40 mm 1.4.1977 258-00 257-00 286-00 3 850 510-00 535-00 66-09 65-11 64-62 
1V2" 1.1.1978 274-00 272-00 299-00 3 650 510-00 535-00 66-09 65-11 64-62 
(') Zeebrugge. 
(2) Power  stations:  254-00  to 264-00  FF/tonne. 
(*) Power  stations:  271-00  to 281-00  FF tonne. 
{*) High  volatile. 
TABLE  20 
Listed  pithead  prices  for Community  coal  at 15 January  and 1 April  1977  and 1 January  1978 
(t per  tonne)  (') 
Category Type Date Ruhr Aachen Saar Belgium Nord Lothringen South  Wales Scotland  • North 
Yorkshire Lowest 
price Highest 
price 
1 Difference 
% 
Anthracite Nuts  3 
20/30  mm 
v4—i  v 15.1.1977 
1.4.1977 
1.1.1978 9358 
91-64 
112-25 — 
— 96-55 
94-24 
108-40 77-36 
84-51 
90-27 — 58-36 
67-70 
76-48 — 
— 58-36 
67-70 
76*48 . 96-55 
94-24 
112-25 65 
39 
47 
Lean  coal Nuts  3 
20/30  mm 
3/4—  IV/ 15.1.1977 
1. 4.1977 
1. 1.1978 90-16 
88-30 
107-49 87-60 
85-79 
107-13 — 93-75 
91-51 
105-34 — — 49-71 
57-88 
65-39 — 
— 49-71 
, 57-88 
65-39 93-75 
91-51 
105-49 89 
58 
64 
Semi-bituminous Nuts  3 
10/20  mm 
0—3/4" 15.1.1977 
1.4.1977 
1.1.1978 71-36 
69-88 
86-56 77-34 
75-74 
94-53 — — — 
— — — 
— 71-36 
69-88 
86-56 77-34 
75-74 
94-53 8 
8 
9 
Long  flame Nuts  2 
30/50  mm 
1—2" 15.1.1977 
1. 4. 1977 
1. 1.1978 66-44 
65-07 
81-09 — 75-20 
73-65 
91-32 68-57 
66-92 
74-81 — 47-72 
50-30 
53-74 — 44-50 
51-28 
57-93 37-62 
43-33 
48-95 37-62 
43-33 
48-95 75-20 
73-65 
91-32 100 
70 
87 
Long  flame Nuts  5 
6/10 mm 15.1.1977 
1.4.1977 
1.1.1978 67-30 
65-91 
82-05 — 73-92 
72-39 
89-89 68-57 
66-92 
74-81 — 42-44  (*) 
44-87  (') 
47-93  (') — 42-83 
49-42 
55-83 34-09 
39-60 
44-74 34-09 
39-60 
44-74 73-92 
72-39 
89-89 117 
83 
101 
Coking  coal Medium  or 
high 
volatile 15.1.1977 
1.4.1977 
1.1.1978 70-72 
69-26 
83-47 71-57 
70-09 
87-52 76-91  (3) 
75-32 
90-37 57-37 
56-00 
64-27 64-98 
68-41 
73-08 68-63  (3) 
72-44 
77-38 56-77  (3) 
65-84 
74-38 46-19  (3) 
53-82 
60-80 42-83  (3) 
49-93 
56-41 42-83 
49-93 
56-41 76-91 
75-32 
90-37 80 
51 
60 
Coke ' Blast  furnace 
40 mm 
iy2" 15.1.1977 
1.4.1977 
1.1.1978 110-24 
107-96 
130-32 109-82 
107-55 
129-37 122-21 
119-68 
142-21 107-75 
105-16 
111-45 97-46 
102-62 
109-62 101-93 
107-65 
114-99 97-65 
113-64 
128-38 95-98 
111-96 
126-48 95-14 
111-11 
125-52 95-14 
102-62 
109-62 122-21 
119-68 
142-21 28 
17 
30 
(') Dollar  exchange  rate 
DM Index Bfrs Index FF Index £ Index 
4. 1. 1977 2 34 100 35-73 100 4 92 100 058 100 
1. 4. 1977 2 39 102 36-61 102 4 97 101 0-58 100 
2. 1. 1978 2 10 90 32-75 92 4-65 95 0 51 88 
(s) Prices  are not adjusted  for quality  differences. 
(3) High  volantile. 
(4) Power  stations:  51-58  to 53-61  S/tonne. 
(5) Power  stations:  54-53  to 56-54  J/tonne. 
(#) Power  stations:  58-25  to 60-40  SI tonne. 
22. 5. 78 Official  Journal  of the  European  Communities No C 118/31 
TABLE  21 
Coke-oven  coke  production  capacity 
(million  tonnes) 
Belgium Germany 
(FR) France Italy Nether-
lands United 
Kingdom Community 
1976 
Colliery  coke  ovens — 27-1 7-6 — — 4-7 39-4 
Iron and  steel  industry 7-7 9-6 6-7 9 0 2-5 10-0 45-5 
Independent — — — 2-6 0-6 3-3 n 6-5 
Total 7-7 367 14-3 11-6 3-1 18-0 914 
(of which  coastal  coking 
plants) (1-5) (05) (4-0) (H-6) (3-1) (••) (••) 
1977 
Colliery  coke  ovens — 24-2 7-4 — — 4-7 363 
Iron and  steel  industry 7-8 9-6 6-0 9-0 2-5 10-1 45-4 
Independent — — — 2-6 0-6 3-0 C) 6-2 
Total 7-8 33-8 13-8 11-6 3-1 17-8 87-9 
(of which  coastal  coking 
plants) (16) (0-5) (4-0) (11 6) (3-1) (..) (--) 
1978 
Colliery  coke  ovens — 21-8 6-5 — — 4-4 32-7 
Iron and  steel  industry 8-1 9-6 6-7 9-0 2-5 12-0 47-9 
Independent — — — 2-6 0-6 3-0 n 6-2 
Total 8 1 314 132 11-6 3-1 19-4 86 8 
(of which  coastal  coking 
plants) (1-6) (0-5) (4-0) (116) (3-1) (••) (..) 
(l) Including  LTC. 
No C 118/32 Official  Journal  of the  European  Communities 22. 5. 78 
TABLE  22 
Coke-oven  coke 
(1 000  tonnes) 
Production  of coke-oven  coke 
Coal  deliver-
ies to 
coking  plants Consump-
tion of coal 
in coking 
plants 1 000  tonnes Variation  in 
% versus  the 
previous 
year 
1976  (actual) 
Belgium 8 464 8 226 6 216 + 8-5 
Germany  (FR) 40 947 40 967 31 951 — 8-2 
France 14 765 14 765 11 313 — 1-2 
Italy 10 703 10 824 7 970 — 12 
Netherlands 3 546 3 565 2 813 + 4-9 
United  Kingdom 21278 21 053 15 753 — 0-7 
Community 99 703 99 400 76 016 — 3-3 
1977  (estimates) 
Belgium 7 050 7 150 5 500 —11-5 
Germany  (FR) 36 100 36 050 27 700 —13-3 
France 13 900 13 900 10 700 — 54 
Italy 9 580 9 560 7 350 — 7-8 
Netherlands 3 450 3 450 2 650 — 5-8 
United  Kingdom 19 600 \9 600 14 500 — 7 8 
Community 89 680 89 710 68 400 —10-0 
1978  (forecasts) 
Belgium 7 400 7 400 5 700 + 3-6 
Germany  (FR) 35 100 35 100 27 000 — 2-5 
France 13 800 13 800 10 600 — 0-9 
Italy 9 180 9 180 7 000 — 4*8 
Netherlands 3 480 3 480 2 675 + 0-9 
United  Kingdom 19 450 19 450 14 400 — 0-7 
Community 88 410 88 410 67 375 — 15 
22. 5. 78 Official  Journal  of the European  Communities No C 118/33 
TABLE  23 
Coal  supplies  to coke  ovens 
(1 000  tonnes) 
National 
coal Coal  from 
other  ECSC 
countries Total 
ECSC 
coal Coal  from 
third 
countries Total 
supplies 
Belgium 
1975 
1976 
1977 4 052 
3 818 
3 520 1 837 
1 978 
1 400 5 889 
5 796 
4 920 1 704 
2 611 
2 130 7 593 
8 407 
7050 
Germany  (FR) 
1975 
1976 
1977 44 327 
40 651 
35 800 229 
209 
200 44 556 
40 860 
36 000 33 
87 
100 44 589 
40 947 
36 100 
France 
1975 
1976 
1977 6 823 
6 793 
6 700 3 419 
3 422 
3 300 10 242 
10 215 
10 000 4 138 
4 588 
3 900 14 381 
14 804 
13 900 
Italy 
1975 
1976 
1977 — 2 800 
2 321 
2 150 2 800 
2 321 
2 150 8 333 
8 523 
7 430 11 133 
10 845 
9 580 
Netherlands 
1975 
1976 
1977 — 893 
700 
600 893 
700 
600 2 777 
2 882 
2 850 3 670 
3 582 
3 450 
United  Kingdom 
1975 
1976 
1977 21 302 
20 229 
18 455 124 
100 21 302 
20 353 
18 555 690 
1 250 
1 045 21 992 
21 603 
19 600 
Community 
1975 
1976 
1977 76 504 
71 491 
64 475 9 178 
8 754 
7 750 85 682 
80 245 
72 225 17 675 
19 941 
17 455 103 358 
100 188 
89 680 
NB:  1977  — estimates. 
No C 118/34 Official  Journal  of the  European  Communities 22.5.  78 
TABLE  24 
Trend  of intra-Community  trade  in coal 
(1 000 tonnes) 
From 
To Belgium Den-
mark Ger-
(FR) France Ireland Italy Luxem-
bourg Nether-
lands United 
King- Total 
Belgium 
1976 — — 3 425 79 — — — — 224 3 728 
1977 — — 3 070 70 — — — — 85 3 225 
1978 — — 2 745 75 — — — — 170 2 990 
Denmark 
1976 — — 1 29 30 
1977 — — 700 — — — — — 100 800 
1978 — — 1 280 120 1 400 
Germany  (FR) 
1976 267 — — 335 3 — — 306 343 1 254 
1977 215 ----- — 250 — — — 150 635 1250 
1978 150 — — 245 — — — 705 1 100 
France 
1976 45 — 4 554 — — — — 14 457 5 070 
1977 40 — 5 060 — — — — 800 5 900 
1978 40 — 5 560 — — — — — 1 000 6 600 
Ireland 
1976 — — 27 — — — — — 105 132 
1977 — — 5 — — — — — 215 220 
1978 — 150 150 
Italy 
1976 — — 2 350 28 — — — — 14 2 392 
1977 — — 2 200 20 2 220 
1978 — — 2 360 20 — — — — 20 2 400 
Luxembourg 
1976 28 — 394 42 — — — 10 47 521 
1977 445 5 — — — — — 450 
1978 — — 445 5 — — — — — 450 
Netherlands 
1976 12 — 827 3 — — — — 48 890 
1977 5 — 800 5 — — — — 165 975 
1978 5 — 840 5 — — — — 150 1 000 
United  Kingdom 
1976 82 — 169 8 14 — — 131 — 404 
1977 — 300 300 
1978 — — 300 — 50 — — — — 350 
Total  deliveries 
1976 434 — 11 747 495 17 — — 461 1 267 14 421 
1977 260 — 12 580 350 — — 150 2 000 15 340 
1978 195 — 13 530 350 50 — — — 2 315 16 440 
N B: 1976  — actual;  1977  — estimates;  1978  — forecasts. 
22. 5. 78 Official  Journal  of the  European  Communities No C 118/35 
TABLE  25 
Trend  of intra-Community  trade  in coke 
(1 000  tonnes) 
From 
To Belgium Den-
mark Ger-
many 
(FR) France Ireland Italy Luxem-
bourg Nether-
lands United 
King- Total 
Belgium 
1976 — — 120 112 — — — 114 35 381 
1977 — — 60 100 — — — 200 20 380 
1978 — — 60 100 — — — 200 20 380 
Denmark 
1976 — — 22 57 — — — 10 36 125 
1977 — — 45 30 — — — — 10 88 
1978 — — 35 30 — — — — 10 75 
Germany  (FR) 
19 76 44 — — 272 — — — 67 67 450 
1977 10 10 — 250 — — — 75 100 445 
1978 10 10 — 220 — — — 80 30 350 
France 
1976 48 — 2 471 — — 32 — 343 22 2 916 
1977 70 — 1 650 — — 50 — 300 30 2 100 
1978 70 — 2 060 — — 50 — 300 20 2 500 
Ireland 
19 76 — — 13 13 
1977 
1978 — — — — — — — — 10 10 
Italy 
1976 16 — 30 87 — — — 1 — 134 
1977 — — 130 — — — — — — 130 
1978 — — 120 — — — — — — 120 
Luxembourg 
1976 58 — 1 925 26 — — — — — 2 009 
1977 140 — 1 890 30 — — — — — 2 060 
1978 140 — 1 960 30 — — — — — 2 130 
Netherlands 
1976 9 — 149 15 — — — — 129 302 
1977 10 — 165 25 — — — — 50 250 
1978 10 — 160 20 — — — — 60 250 
United  Kingdom 
1976 
1977 United  Kingdom 
1976 
1977 
1978 
Total  deliveries 
1976 175 — 4 717 569 — 32 — 535 302 6 330 
1977 230 10 3 940 435 — 50 — 575 220 5 460 
1978 230 10 4 395 400 — 50 — 580 140 5 805 
NB:  1976  — actual;  1977  — estimates;  1978  — forecasts. 
No C 118/36 Official  Journal  of the European  Communities 22.5.  78 
TABLE  26 
Imports  of coal  from  third  countries 
A. By country  of destination 
(million  tonnes) 
1976 
(actual) 1977 
(estimates) 1978 
(forecasts) 
Belgium 3-5 2-8 2-2 
Denmark 4-1 4-2 4-6 
Germany  (FR) 5-4 5-4 5-1 
France 13 8 15-6 15-5 
Ireland 0-5 0-5 0-6 
Italy 10 0 9-6 9-4 
Luxembourg 0 1 0-2 0-2 
Netherlands 3 8 4-0 3-9 
United  Kingdon 24 2-3 2-3 
Community 43-7 44-7 43-8 
B. By country  of origin 
(million  tonnes) 
1976 
(actual) 1977 
(estimates) 1978 
(forecasts) 
USA 14 2 11-5 11-1 
Poland 16 0 14-3 15-0 
USSR 4 1 3-8 3-0 
Australia 4-5 66 5-6 
South  Africa 3-5 7-1 7-1 
Others 0 8 1-4 2-0 
Total 43 7 44-7 43 8 
C. By sector  of consumption  (*) 
(million  tonnes) 
1976 
(actual) 1977 
(estimates) 1978 
(forecasts) 
Steam  coal 19-9 23 3 23 3 
Coking  coal 17 8 17-8 17-1 
Others 6 0 3 6 3-4 
Total 43-7 44-7 43-8 
(i) For  1976,  figures  are  the actual  deliveries  to public  power  plants  and  to coke  ovens;  for 1977  and  1978,  all coal  described 
as steam  coal  or coking  coal. 
22. 5. 78 Official  Journal  of the  European  Communities No C 118/37 
TABLE  27 
Imports  of coal  from  third  countries  — 1977 
(Estimates) 
(1 000  tonnes) 
USA Poland USSR Australia South 
Africa Others Total 
Belgium 
Denmark 
Germany  (FR) 
France 
Ireland 
Italy 
Luxembourg 
Netherlands 
United  Kingdom 
Community 1 220 
100 
1000 
1 800 
4 750 
2 220 
400 550 
2 600 
2 100 
5 075 
505 
2 550 
800 
165 210 
600 
200 
1 175 
1 200 
100 
250 
75 250 
100 
800 
2 000 
1 100 
600 
1 690 460 
300 
800 
5 400 
62 
75 
3 145 
500 
500 
150 
100 
12 2 835 
4 200 
5 400 
15 600 
505 
9 600 
162 
4 045 
2 345 Belgium 
Denmark 
Germany  (FR) 
France 
Ireland 
Italy 
Luxembourg 
Netherlands 
United  Kingdom 
Community 11 490 14 345 3 810 6 540 7100 1407 44 692 
No C 118/38 Official  Journal  of the  European  Communities 22. 5. 78 
TABLE  28 
Community  producers'  stocks 
A. Stocks  of coal 
(1 000  tonnes) 
End of 
1976 
(actual) End of 
1977 End of 
1978 
(forecasts) Difference End of 
1976 
(actual) (provisional) End of 
1978 
(forecasts) 1977/76 1978/77 
Belgium 1 120 726 391 — 394 — 335 
Germany  (FR)  (*) 11 500 17 070 16 640 +5 570 — 430 
France 4 396 5 010 4 680 + 614 — 330 
Ireland 30 30 30 — — 
United  Kingdom 11 627 9 950 10 585 —1 677 + 635 
Community  (2) 28 682 32 795 32 335 +4 113 — 460 
B. Stocks  of coke-oven  coke 
(1 000 tonnes) 
End of 
1976 
(actual) End of 
1977 
(provisional) End of 
1978 
(forecasts) Difference End of 
1976 
(actual) End of 
1977 
(provisional) End of 
1978 
(forecasts) 1977/76 1978/77 
Belgium 92 96 96 + 4 — 
Germany  (FR)  (*) 12 783 15 230 15 035 +2 447 — 195 
France 1500 1 350 1 325 — 150 — 25 
Italy 921 900 900 — 21 — 
Netherlands 35 30 25 — 5 — 5 
United  Kingdom 3 032 3 640 3 670 + 608 + 30 
Community 18 363 21 246 21 051 + 2 883 — 195 
C. Stocks  of coal  and  coke-oven  coke,  value  in terms  of coal  equivalent  for  coke 
(1 000 tonnes) 
End of 
1976 
(actual) End of 
1977 
(provisional) End of 
1978 
(forecasts) Difference End of 
1976 
(actual) End of 
1977 
(provisional) End of 
1978 
(forecasts) 1977/76 1978/77 
Belgium 1 240 851 516 — 389 — 335 
Germany  (FR) 28 117 36 869 36 185 +8%% — 684 
France 6 346 6 765 6 403 + 419 — 362 
Ireland 30 30 30 — — 
Italy 1 206 1 179 1 179 — 27 — 
Netherlands 46 39 33 — 7 — 6 
United  Kingdom 15 569 14 682 15 356 — 887 + 674 
Community 52 554 60 415 59 702 +7 861 — 713 
(*) Including  'Notgemeinschaft'. 
(*) Including  nine  in Italy. 
22. 5. 78 Official  Journal  of the European  Communities No C 118/39 
TABLE  29 
Stocks  of coal  at power  stations 
End of 
1975 End of 
1976 End of 1977  (estimates) Difference 
(actual) (actual) 1 000  tonnes Days 1976/75 1977/76 
Belgium 579 545 1 900 185 — 34 + 1355 
Denmark 2 711 2 270 2 800 230 — 441 530 
Germany  (FR) 6 195 5 848 5 800 58 — 347 — 48 
France 3 728 2 849 4 450 82 — 879 + 1601 
Ireland — — — — — — 
Italy 729 588 600 120 — 141 + 12 
Netherlands 215 298 300 90 + 83 + 2 
United  Kingdom 17 951 19 597 17 500 79 + 1 646 —2 097 
Community 32 108 31 995 33 350 82 — 113 +1355 
No C 118/40 Official  Journal  of the European  Communities 22. 5. 78 
TABLE  30 
Breakdown  of coal  stocks 
(Total  colliery  stocks  at the  end  of September  1977) 
A. By group  and  by preparation 
(1 000 tonnes) 
Large  and 
graded Smalls 
washed Untreated 
smalls 
and fines Part 
treated 
smalls Ran of 
mine Slurry Total 
Belgium 
Groups  I + II 
Groups  V — VI 
Groups  III — IV — VII 
Total 5 
50 16 
675 4 
58 — 42 67 
783 Belgium 
Groups  I + II 
Groups  V — VI 
Groups  III — IV — VII 
Total 55 691 62 — 42 850 
Germany  (FR) 
Groups  I + II 
Groups  V — VI 
Groups  III — IV — VII 
Total 
+ ('Notgemeinschaft') 
(Total) 63 
156 
422 399 
1704 
694 21 
5 
100 113 
875 
183 610 
4 775 
100 21 
78 
507 1 227 
7 593 
2 006 Germany  (FR) 
Groups  I + II 
Groups  V — VI 
Groups  III — IV — VII 
Total 
+ ('Notgemeinschaft') 
(Total) 641 2 797 126 1 171 5 485 606 10 826 
(6 484) 
(17 310) 
France 
Groups  I + II 
Groups  V — VI 
Groups  III — IV — VII 
Total 78 
503 
14 243 
687 
8 167 
524 
404 663 
832 
84 17 
25 207 
694 
117 1 375 
3 265 
627 France 
Groups  I + II 
Groups  V — VI 
Groups  III — IV — VII 
Total 595 938 1 095 1 579 42 1 018 5 267 
Ireland  III — IV — VII 30 30 
United  Kingdom 
Groups  I + II 
Groups  V — VI 
Groups  III — IV — VII 
Total 24 
158 
324 484 
1 196 
757 921 
867 
2 182 12 
207 
591 659 
223 
473 — 2 100 
2 651 
4 327 United  Kingdom 
Groups  I + II 
Groups  V — VI 
Groups  III — IV — VII 
Total 506 2 437 3 970 810 1 355 — 9 078 
Community 
Groups  I + II 
Groups  V — VI 
Groups  III — IV — VII 
Total 170 
867 
760 1 142 
4 262 
1 459 1 901 
3 368 
3 544 1 286 
5 023 
603 270 
772 
624 4 769 
14 292 
6 990 Community 
Groups  I + II 
Groups  V — VI 
Groups  III — IV — VII 
Total 1 797 6 863 8 813 6 912 1 666 26 051 
22.5.78 Official  Journal  of the European  Communities No C 118/41 
B. By group  and  by area 
Groups Groups Groups 
MI V-VI III-IV-VII 
Belgium 
Luxembourg — 783 — 783 
Bassin  Sud 67 — — 67 
Total 67 783 — 850 
Germany  (FR) 
Ruhr 523 6 852 105 7 480 
Saar — 687 1 463 2 150 
Aachen 373 54 438 865 
Nieder  Sachsen 331 — — 331 
Total 1227 7 593 2 006 10 826 
(+ 'Notgemeinschaft') (6 484) 
(Total) (17 310) 
France 
Nord-Pas-de-Calais 993 803 1 1 797 
Lorraine — 1 882 1 882 
Centre  Midi 382 580 626 1588 
Total 1375 3 265 627 5 267 
Ireland — — 30 30 
United  Kingdom 
Scotland 159 296 455 
Northern — 714 48 762 
Yorkshire — 536 512 1 048 
North  Western — 610 85 695 
Midlands — 15 1 597 1 612 
South  Wales 1738 116 1 040 2 894 
Opencast 362 501 749 1 612 
Total 2 100 2 651 4 327 9 078 
Community 4 769 14 292 6 990 26 051 
Balance  of supply  and  demand:  hard  coal,  1978 
(1 000 tonnes  — national  series) ? r> 
£ Belgium Denmark Germany 
(FR) France Ireland Italy Luxem-
bourg Nether-
lands United 
Kingdom Community 
1. Production 
2. Correction  for recoveries 
3. Receipts  from  other  ECSC  countries 
4. Imports  from  third  countries 7 415 
820 
2 990 
2 230 1 400 
4 600 84 000 
7 000 
1 100 
5 100 19 900 
2 300 
6 600 
15 500 50 
150 
625 2 400 
9 410 450 
160 1 000 
3 900 119 900 
5 000 
350 
2 300 231 265 
11 120 
(16 440) 
43 825 
5. Total  availabilities 13 455 6 000 97 200 44 300 825 11 810 610 4 900 123 550 286 210 
6. Inland  demand: 
(a) 
(b) 
(c) 
(d) 
(f) 
(g) power  stations  at mines 
public  power  stations 
coking  plants 
iron and  steel  industry 
(of which  power  stations) 
other  industries 
(of which  power  stations) 
domestic  heating 
miscellaneous: 
(1) issues  to workers 
(2) patent  fuel  plants 
(3) own  consumption  at mines 
(4) gasworks 
(5) railways 
(6) others 
Total 300 
3 345 
7 400 
180 
(-) 
780 
(—) 
1 325 
85 
115 
20 
13 555 5 400 
(-) 
445 
(-) 
45 
110 
6 000 9 000 
25 300 
35 100 
1 300 
(1 000) 
6 200 
(4 200) 
900 
400 
1 250 
400 
1 000 
50 
1 000 
81 900 7 000 
15 000 
13 800 
1700 
(300) 
1 700 
(-) 
2 550 
150 
1 900 
400 
30 
44 230 50 
(-) 
30 
(-) 
650 
45 
775 2 250 
9 180 
20 
(-) 
140 
(-) 
120 
40 
60 
11 810 600 
(-) 
(-) 
5 1 250 
3 480 
75 
85 200 16 500 
77 300 129 900 
19 450 88 410 
400 4 200 
(200) (1 500) 
8 900 18 270 
(1 000) (5 200) 
10 100 15 780 
610 4 890 2 000 
1 000 
1 000 
120 350 2 635 
4 305 
1 820 
1 155 
145 
1 000 
284 120 ?r 
i 3 
i 
Deliveries  to other  ECSC  countries 
Exports  to third  countries 195 
40 13 530 
2 200 350 
50 50 
10 2315 
250 (16 440) 
2 550 
9. Total  requirements 13 790 6 000 97 630 44 630 825 11 810 610 4 900 122 915 286  670 
10. Producers'  stocks  (beginning) 
11. Additions  to/withdrawals  from  producers'  stocks 
12. Producers'  stocks  (end) 335 430 — 330 + 635 
to 
oo 
Coal  — intra-Community  exchanges 
(1 000 tonnes) 
From 
To Belgium Denmark Germany 
(FR) France Ireland Italy Luxem-
bourg Nether-
lands United 
Kingdom Total 
receipts 
Belgium — — 2 745 75 — — — — 170 2 990 
Denmark — — 1 280 — — — — — 120 1 400 
Germany  (FR) 150 — — 245 — — — — 705 1 100 
France 40 — 5 560 — — — — — 1 000 6 600 
Ireland — — — — — — — — 150 150 
Italy — — 2 360 20 — — — — 20 2 400 
Luxembourg — — 445 5 — — — — — 450 
Netherlands 5 — 840 5 — — — — 150 1 000 
United  Kingdom — — 300 — 50 — — — — 350 
Total  deliveries 195 — 13 530 350 50 — — — 2 315 16 440 g 
3 EL 
0 
1 I n 0 
1 
? n 
& 
? n 
Balance  of supply  and  demand:  coke-oven  coke,  1978 * 
(1 000 tonnes) 
Belgium Denmark Germany 
(FR) France Ireland Italy Luxem-
bourg Nether-
lands United 
Kingdom Community 
1. Production 
2. Receipts  from  other  ECSC  countries 
3. Imports 5 700 
380 
20 75 
10 27 000 
350 
500 10 600 
2 500 
10 7 000 
120 2 130 2 675 
250 14 400 67 375 
(5 805) 
540 
4. Total  availabilities 6 100 85 27 850 13 100 10 7 120 2 130 2 925 14 400 67 915 
5. Inland  demand: 
(a) iron  and  steel  industry 
(b) other  industries 
(c) domestic  users 
(d) miscellaneous: 
— issues  to workers 
— own  consumption 
— others 
Total 5 570 
210 
25 
15 
5 820 40 
10 
25 
75 17 400 
1350 
900 
700 
250 
250 
20 850 10 525 
1 200 
140 
120 
330 
10 
12 325 10 
10 5 900 
500 
215 
5 
50 
6 670 2 125 
3 
2 
2 130 2 080 
220 
2 
2 302 9 500 
1245 
2 485 
250 
13 480 53 150 
4 738 
3 794 
840 
880 
260 
63 662 
6. Deliveries  to other  ECSC  countries 
7. Exports  to third  countries 230 
50 10 4 395 
2 800 400 
400 — 50 
400 — 580 
48 140 
750 (5 805) 
4 448 
8. Total  requirements 6 100 85 28 045 13 125 10 7 120 2 130 2 930 14 370 68 110 
9. Producers'  stocks  (beginning) 
10. Additions  to/withdrawals  from  producers'  stocks 
11. Producers'  stocks  (end) — 195 — 25 — 5 + 30 — 195 ?f 
£ 1 f 
Coke-oven  coke  — intra-Community  exchanges,  1978 
(1 000 tonnes 
From 
To Belgium Denmark Germany 
(FR) France Ireland Italy Luxem-
bourg Nether-
lands United 
Kingdom Total 
receipts 
Belgium — — 60 100 — — — 200 20 380 
Denmark — — 35 30 — — — 10 75 
Germany  (FR) 10 10 — 220 — — — 80 30 350 
France 70 — 2 060 — — 50 — 300 20 2 500 
Ireland — — — — — — — — — — 
Italy — — 120 — — — — — — 120 
Luxembourg 140 — 1 960 30 — — — — — 2 130 
Netherlands 10 — 160 20 — — — — 60 250 
United  Kingdom — — — — — — — — — — 
Total  deliveries 230 10 4 395 400 — 50 — 580 140 5 805