Given the size of the prize and technical complexity of producing value from efficiency reserves, a new breed of energy development comparable to the oil and gas industry has begun to take shape.

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Despite such promise, many local leaders have insisted that no pressure be put on the reserves until they actually start producing revenue, which they expect as early as 2018 or 2019.

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Likewise, expendable-resource-rich countries, such as the oil-producing nations, might want to build up reserves (and establish sovereign wealth funds) to share their blessings with future generations who may no longer be able to depend on that resource.

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It has thermal coal reserves of 1.1 billion tons and is currently producing 4 million tons annually.

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As an example, Montana has larger coal reserves than Europe, Africa, or South America, but it is producing less than 0.1% of that coal each year.

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Denbury noted 84% of the proved reserves there consist of oil and natural gas liquids and 26% proved developed producing.

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China is producing 97 percent of the global supply of rare earths, despite controlling less than half of its reserves.

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Roland Phelps of Galantas thinks over 3m ounces of gold reserves could be discovered in that period: not much by the standards of big gold-producing nations, but enough for a tidy niche industry.

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