<P> Internal combustion motors driven by the so - called "mixed", "poor", "semi-water" or "Dowson gas" produced by the gasification of anthracite with air (and a small proportion of steam) were at one time the most economical method of obtaining power, consuming 1 pound of fuel per horsepower - hour, or less . Large quantities of anthracite for power purposes were formerly exported from South Wales to France, Switzerland and parts of Germany . As of April 2013, widespread commercial anthracite mining in Wales has now ceased, although a few large open cast sites remain, along with some relatively small drift mining operations . </P> <P> Anthracite generally costs two to three times as much as regular coal . In June 2008, the wholesale cost of anthracite was US $150 / short ton . </P> <P> The principal use of anthracite today is for a domestic fuel in either hand - fired stoves or automatic stoker furnaces . It delivers high energy per its weight and burns cleanly with little soot, making it ideal for this purpose . Its high value makes it prohibitively expensive for power plant use . Other uses include the fine particles used as filter media, and as an ingredient in charcoal briquettes . Anthracite is an authorised fuel in terms of the United Kingdom's Clean Air Act 1993, meaning that it can be used within a designated Smoke Control Area such as the central London boroughs . </P> <P> China today mines by far the largest share of global anthracite production, accounting for more than three - quarters of global output . Most Chinese production is of standard - grade anthracite, which is used in power generation . Increased demand in China has made that country into a net importer of the fuel, mostly from Vietnam, another major producer of anthracite for power generation, although increasing domestic consumption in Vietnam means that exports may be scaled back . </P>

Where is anthracite coal found in the world