<P> Coal is extracted from the ground by coal mining . Since 1983 , the world 's top coal producer has been China . In 2015 China produced 3,747 million tonnes of coal -- 48 % of 7,861 million tonnes world coal production . In 2015 other large producers were United States ( 813 million tonnes ) , India ( 678 ) , European Union ( 539 ) and Australia ( 503 ) . In 2010 the largest exporters were Australia with 328 million tonnes ( 27 % of world coal export ) and Indonesia with 316 million tonnes ( 26 % ) , while the largest importers were Japan with 207 million tonnes ( 18 % of world coal import ) , China with 195 million tonnes ( 17 % ) and South Korea with 126 million tonnes ( 11 % ) . </P>
<P> Coal is extracted from the ground by coal mining . Since 1983 , the world 's top coal producer has been China . In 2015 China produced 3,747 million tonnes of coal -- 48 % of 7,861 million tonnes world coal production . In 2015 other large producers were United States ( 813 million tonnes ) , India ( 678 ) , European Union ( 539 ) and Australia ( 503 ) . In 2010 the largest exporters were Australia with 328 million tonnes ( 27 % of world coal export ) and Indonesia with 316 million tonnes ( 26 % ) , while the largest importers were Japan with 207 million tonnes ( 18 % of world coal import ) , China with 195 million tonnes ( 17 % ) and South Korea with 126 million tonnes ( 11 % ) . </P>
where does coal come from and how is it obtained
where does coal come from and how is it obtained
the ground coal mining
the ground coal mining