Until the coal arrives

About the uses and demand for coal in Japan

Coal is an energy source that is easy to supply steadily and is also economically superior. It can be mined for a longer period of time than other fossil fuels such as oil, and it is found in a wide variety of areas, so a stable supply can be expected. In addition, its price is lower and more stable than crude oil and LNG gas, and it can generate electricity at a lower cost than thermal power plants that use LNG gas.
In Japan, renewable energy is difficult to control due to price issues and unstable power generation. In this situation, Japan, which lacks stable energy Resources, needs to utilize a certain amount of coal, which has these characteristics.

Source: Resources, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry

Idemitsu Kosan’s coal business

We have built an integrated supply chain in Australia, from mine operations to logistics, sales, and after-sales services, to provide a stable supply of coal to our customers.

Idemitsu Kosan’s coal business

Until the coal arrives

Mine operations in Australia

We operate mines in Australia, which is rich in coal Resources. After fiscal year 2023, we will not develop new coal mines or increase production through large-scale investments, and will instead focus our production activities on Boggabri Mine.
Boggabri Mine produces high-quality coal, making it a highly competitive mine and serving as a supply source for Japan.

Operating mine state Production volume (million tons/year) * Interest (%)
Bogabrai new south wales 4.6 80
  • The production volume of the mine is equivalent to the interest. (2022)

Sourcing from the Asia-Pacific market

We source extensively not only from Australian mines but also from the Asia-Pacific market. We have established bases in Indonesia (Jakarta) and China (Beijing) to ensure stable procurement of purchased coal and to develop new supply sources.

Transportation/coal storage

Coal that is procured and mined at mines is transported and shipped by train, ship, etc. If it comes from Australia, it will take about 15 days to be transported to Japan.
Coal unloaded in Japan is transported to coal storage sites. The coal storage area of our group's coal storage yard (Idemitsu Bulk Terminal) is approximately 80,000 square meters, which is equivalent to an area the size of 1.7 Tokyo Dome, and can store approximately 350,000 tons of coal. We deliver coal directly to customers who have import terminals, and transport coal via bulk terminals to customers without transport terminals, achieving a stable supply.

sale

In addition to power plants and steel mills, we provide a stable supply of coal to customers in many fields such as cement, chemicals, pulp and paper, gypsum, non-ferrous metals, and food.
In addition to direct sales to customers, we also sell by proposing optimal logistics using our group's bulk terminals.

In-house use

Our Refinery operate coal-fired boilers for power generation and motive power. We use coal as our own fuel, have accumulated know-how on how to use it, and are able to meet the needs of our customers.

Research and Development

Coal & Environment Research Laboratory is the only private research institute in Japan that specializes in coal, and provides support for our coal business and the technical issues our customers face.