COAL

COAL MINERS
LEAVING THEIR SHIFT

At the end of 3rd century coal was mined in China. This is the earliest recording of coal mining, Coal was used for domestic and most importantly it was used in metalworking, pottery making and other manufacturing because it provides the highest temperature as needed.

Around 200 years later it was reported that alluvial coal was used in Greek and Rome but only domestically.

The first coal mine in Britain was during the Roman occupation.

Wood was still used extensively as the main source of heating.

When the Industrial Revolution came and they needed more sufficient fuel, coal was in high demand. The coal mines established where ever coal deposits could be found. Britain was till the beginning of 20th century the leading coal supplier.

North American took over since and supplies almost half of the world demand.

Geologists think that estimated on the present use of coal the deposits would last another 200 years.

AN ILLUSTRATION OF A CHINESE COAL MINE FROM 1837

A new technology can make coal more environmental friendly. It is achieved by reducing dangerous emission. But some problems never change. Pits with nearer the surface coal are more profitable than deep seams.

The coal comes in different grates by 'gross calorific value (gcv).

HARD COAL has a gcv of over 5700kcal/kg.

BROWN COAL is under 5700kcal/kg

It has more carbon and less moisture therefore it produces more energy and brings a better price. It is used for heating and power generator. Hard coal also includes anthracite and bituminous coal. Jet black and shiny anthracite coal is the hardest. It burns without smoke because it almost consists of carbon entirely. This has a great advantage because of the law and regulation. Much of it is baked in ovens to turn it into coke. Coke is a purer and powers the blast furnaces at steel mills.

The world hard coal production has gone up by 61% since 1971.

CHINA

China is the largest producers and their output is around 1210Mt. 600 mines are owned by the Government. 80,000 are either privately own or by collective groups. These mines were improving their equipments and safety standards. However, many bits are too small for international foreign investment. The whole industries could do with re-construction.

INDIA

India's coal mines are state-owned and have an 88% output. However, the coal contains high moisture and impurities. The Indian steel makers import coal from Australia.

AUSTRALIA

Australia is the world top coal exporter. It is over 131.1Mt. Their coal deposits are in Queensland and New South Wales.

JAPAN

Japan is one of Australia's biggest customers. Japan consumes 15 times more than it produces. The Japanese Government taxes crude oil and pays subsidies to the nation's few coal mines.

USA

USA's production is mainly consumed by them. They could raise their production but it needs investments.

COLOMBIA

Colombia, like all its neighbouring countries, is hampered by a poor transport system.

USSR

In 1994, the former USSR's hard coal production fell by 10%. Power station and steel mills could not pay for their coal. That resulted in miners were not paid. Their export was reduced by 3.3Mt because of their shortage in transport.

GERMANY

Germany gives big subsidies to deep coal mines to keep the miners in work. Their coal industry has been reconstructed gradually and by agreement.

The UK's politic aimed and succeeded to defeat the miners' union. It gave huge sums to the nuclear power industry which is a more expensive source of energy than coal. They simply closed down most of the Britain's state-owned pits. In one year 27,000 jobs were lost. Other mines were sold to private companies.

Europe transports coal by barges. The many waterways enable the producers to ship the coal cheaper and it is easier to load it onto ships.