Top 5 African countries with the lowest coal reserves in 2025

While some African nations continue to rely heavily on coal for both domestic use and exports, others are operating on significantly smaller reserves, or have little to none at all. The Central African Republic has the lowest coal reserves on the continent, with only 3 million cubic meters.

• Business Insider Africa presents the top 5 African countries with the lowest coal reserves in 2025.
• The list is courtesy of Global Firepower.
• The Central African Republic has the lowest coal reserves on the continent, with only 3 million cubic meters.

Coal has historically played a central role in shaping Africa’s energy landscape, particularly in southern regions of the continent. From powering industries to fueling electricity generation, the black rock has long been a cornerstone of national economies.

However, as the global community intensifies efforts to transition toward cleaner energy sources, the place of coal in Africa’s future is being re-examined.

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While some African nations continue to rely heavily on coal for both domestic use and exports, others are operating on significantly smaller reserves, or have little to none at all.

These disparities in coal endowments not only reflect the geological diversity across the continent but also highlight varying levels of dependence on fossil fuels.

The Central African Republic, for instance, has the lowest coal reserves on the continent, with only 3 million cubic meters, a minuscule amount compared to heavyweights like South Africa.

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Niger follows, with around 90 million cubic meters, while Morocco, a country rapidly advancing in solar and wind energy, sits close behind with just 96 million cubic meters.

These limited reserves put such countries in a unique position: they are less reliant on coal and arguably better placed to leapfrog directly into renewables without the burden of phasing out large-scale coal operations.

Below are the top 5 African countries with the lowest coal reserves in 2025: