Ireland Resource Reserves (2026)

1980

2023

What to know

As of 2023, coal dominated Ireland's reserves at 44.1 million short tons recoverable. It also held 0.350 trillion cubic feet of gas. Over the last decade, coal reserves grew significantly (+186%). EIA stopped publishing oil and gas proved reserves in 2023; the figures above use the latest archived release, while coal continues to update through 2023. Beyond fossil fuels, Ireland has historically produced Zinc among USGS-tracked critical minerals.

Key reserves

Natural gas reserves (2021)

0.35 TCF

Coal reserves (2023)

44.1 M ST

Key terms

Proved reserves: — Quantities of crude oil or natural gas that geological and engineering data demonstrate with reasonable certainty are recoverable under existing economic and operating conditions.
Recoverable reserves: — Coal that can be technically and economically extracted with current mining methods at current prices. Excludes inaccessible deposits.
Billion barrels (B bbl): — Unit for oil reserves. One barrel equals 42 US gallons or about 159 litres.
Trillion cubic feet (TCF): — Unit for natural gas reserves. One TCF is roughly 28.3 billion cubic metres.
Million short tons (M ST): — Unit for coal reserves. One short ton equals 2,000 lb or 907 kg.

Natural gas proved reserves

In 2021, Ireland held 0.350 trillion cubic feet of proved natural gas reserves. Reserves held roughly steady over the prior decade.

Coal recoverable reserves

As of 2023, Ireland's recoverable coal reserves totaled 44.1 million short tons. That grew significantly compared with a decade earlier (+186%).

The bottom line

Ireland's reserve base was dominated by coal, the most carbon-intensive fossil fuel by energy content.

Critical minerals (USGS)

Ireland has historically produced Zinc among USGS-tracked critical minerals.

USGS marks 2025 production figures and all reserve estimates as estimated; some earlier production years are USGS estimates as well. Each commodity below charts its own mine-production history, with the 2025 reserve shown beneath its chart.

Zinc production

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration · Updated June 2026

What to know

Key reserves

Natural gas reserves (2021)

0.35 TCF

Coal reserves (2023)

44.1 M ST

Key terms

Proved reserves: — Quantities of crude oil or natural gas that geological and engineering data demonstrate with reasonable certainty are recoverable under existing economic and operating conditions.
Recoverable reserves: — Coal that can be technically and economically extracted with current mining methods at current prices. Excludes inaccessible deposits.
Billion barrels (B bbl): — Unit for oil reserves. One barrel equals 42 US gallons or about 159 litres.
Trillion cubic feet (TCF): — Unit for natural gas reserves. One TCF is roughly 28.3 billion cubic metres.
Million short tons (M ST): — Unit for coal reserves. One short ton equals 2,000 lb or 907 kg.

Natural gas proved reserves

In 2021, Ireland held 0.350 trillion cubic feet of proved natural gas reserves. Reserves held roughly steady over the prior decade.

Coal recoverable reserves

As of 2023, Ireland's recoverable coal reserves totaled 44.1 million short tons. That grew significantly compared with a decade earlier (+186%).

The bottom line

Ireland's reserve base was dominated by coal, the most carbon-intensive fossil fuel by energy content.

Critical minerals (USGS)

Ireland has historically produced Zinc among USGS-tracked critical minerals.

United Kingdom

What to know

Key reserves

Natural gas proved reserves

Coal recoverable reserves

The bottom line

Critical minerals (USGS)

Zinc production

United Kingdom

What to know

Key reserves

Natural gas proved reserves

Coal recoverable reserves

The bottom line

Critical minerals (USGS)

Zinc production