Coal royalties and reporting

Royalty reporting requirements

Under the Mines and Minerals Act, the Coal Royalty Regulation regulation specifies the requirements to report and pay royalties on coal produced from the location of a coal lease.

Information Letters provide further interpretation under the Mines and Minerals Act and the Coal Royalty Regulation

Royalty information

In 2021, the Alberta government collected $7.3 million in royalties from coal (this does not include freehold production of coal).

Royalties vary annually depending on the coal price. In the last five years, royalties have ranged between $7 million and $23 million per year.

Coal royalties are set under the Coal Royalty Regulation, under this regulation, there are two royalty regimes:

The royalty rate for Crown-owned Subbituminous (Plains) coal, used mainly to generate electricity, is:

• $0.55/tonne

The royalty rate for Crown-owned Bituminous (Mountain/Foothills) coal, which is based on a revenue minus costs royalty regime, is:

• Before mine payout: 1% of mine mouth revenue
• After mine payout: 1% of mine mouth revenue plus 13% of net revenue

See Mineral royalty forms submission in online learning for more information.

Contact

Connect with the Coal and Mineral Development Unit:

Hours: 8:15 am to noon and 1 pm to 4 pm (open Monday to Friday, closed statutory holidays)
Phone: 780-427-7707
Toll free: 310-0000 before the phone number (in Alberta)
Email: [email protected]

Edmonton

Address:
Alberta Energy and Minerals
Coal and Mineral Development Unit
North Petroleum Plaza
9945 108 Street *
Edmonton, Alberta  T5K 2G6

* Couriers, please report to the 2nd floor.

Calgary (drop-off location only)

Address:
Alberta Energy and Minerals
300, 801 6 Avenue SW
Calgary, Alberta  T2P 3W2