Global Energy Monitor

The Global Coal Terminals Tracker (GCTT) uses a two-level system for organizing information, consisting of data points in tabular format and project profiles hosted on GEM.wiki with further information. The tracker data is updated on an annual basis, with the most recent iteration released in December 2022.

Inclusion Criteria

The Global Coal Terminals Tracker (GCTT) includes coal import, export, and domestic terminals. All global coal terminals are included with capacity of handling 1 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) of coal or more. Coal terminals include all operating, proposed, retired, and shelved or cancelled projects on the globe. Each project included in the GCTT tracker is linked to a wiki page on GEM.wiki, which provides additional details.

For context, the Global Coal Terminals Tracker map also includes all projects from the Global Coal Mine Tracker (GCMT) and Global Coal Plant Tracker (GCPT), as well as coal-based steel plants (blast-furnace-basic oxygen furnace) from the Global Steel Plant Tracker (GSPT).

Research Process

Preliminary lists of coal terminals in each country are gathered from public and private data sources, including government reports and databases, company reports, news and media reports, and information from non-governmental organizations. The terminals are subsequently reviewed and updated by Global Energy Monitor researchers. Where possible, coal terminal data is circulated for review to researchers familiar with local conditions and languages.

Data points are recorded in tabular format for aggregate presentation and analysis and a factsheet with qualitative information is recorded in project-specific pages on GEM.wiki, which may include information on project financing, environmental impacts, extraction sources, public opposition, aerial imagery, videos, links to permits, coordinates, and more. Under standard wiki convention, we strive to link each piece of information to a published reference such as a news article, company report, or regulatory permit. Alternate names for projects are also recorded. For projects with names in other languages, we also attempt to record local language names.

Terminology

The tracker provides information on the operating status of each coal terminal and the development status of each proposed project

Operating: Terminals that have been formally commissioned or that have entered commercial operation

Mothballed: Terminals that have been deactivated or put into an inactive state but are not retired

Retired:Terminals that have been permanently shut down

Proposed: Projects announced or in planning, but not yet under physical construction

Construction: Projects where physical construction has begun

Shelved: Projects officially shelved by a sponsor, or that show no activity over a period of 2 years

Canceled: Projects officially canceled by a sponsor, removed from company documents, or that show no activity over a period of 4 years

Mapping

Global Energy Monitor worked with GreenInfo Network to develop a map-based interface using the Leaflet Open-Source JavaScript library. The tracker’s public interface includes the map view, table view, and filtering mechanism. The map provides the option to view coal terminals in conjunction with Global Energy Monitor’s coal infrastructure data, including the Global Coal Plant Tracker, Global Coal Mine Tracker, and Global Steel Plant Tracker.

Geolocations are visually determined using Google Maps, Google Earth, or Planet Labs. For proposed projects, exact locations, if available, are from permit applications or other company documentation. If the location of a plant or proposal is not known, GEM identifies the most approximate location.

Who Built this Tool?

The tracker was designed and produced by Global Energy Monitor. The information in the tracker has been verified by researchers familiar with particular countries, when possible. 

The following people participated in research of this project: Sophia Bauer, Flora Champeonis, Ariane DesRosiers, Isaac Gallogly, Russell Gray, Yedan Li, Christine Shearer, and Ryan Driskell Tate.