Coal Mines

Coal Mines In Mongolia

digant — Sat, 02 Jan 2021 14:30:25 +0000

Mining is important to the national economy of Mongolia. Mongolia is one of the 29 resource-rich developing countries identified by the International Monetary Fund and exploration of copper and coal deposits are generating substantial additional revenue. Khotgor Coal Mine is an open-pit coal
mining site about 120 kilometres (75 mi) west of Ulaangom. Ömnögovi Province in the south of Mongolia is home to large scale mining projects such as the Tavan Tolgoi coal mine . The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has estimated that 71 percent of the income from the mine would go to Mongolia.
Mongolia hosts 10% of the world’s known coal reserves at an estimated 162 billion tonnes in 2011
with 17 operating coal mines. Mongolia exported 73% of the 25 million tons of coal produced in
2010, making it the country’s largest export (which had previously been copper). The largest
customer for coal was China, accounting for over 82% of all exported coal. The Tavan Tolgoi, the
largest coal site in Mongolia, which has high-grade coal deposits is expected to yield six billion
tonnes of coal. While the biggest client for this coal is China (Mongolia’s trade with China is about
85%), Russia is also likely to be bidder for this coal once the 1,000-kilometre (621-mile) rail link to
the country is completed; Japan, Korea and Taiwan are also likely to be beneficiaries to this coal
through the Trans-Siberian railway. Mongolia has also initiated coal based power projects and coalwashing
plants which will be beneficial to its economic advancement. Coal mining companies
include Hunnu Coal.
Many illegal miners in Mongolia are referred to as ninja miners. They get the name from the
resemblance the green bowls they carry on their backs (which are used to pan for gold, coal) have to
the shells of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. After the fall of the People’s Republic of Mongolia
many people became traditional herders. Two harsh winters in the early 2000s resulted in a massive
loss in livestock. After this thousands of Mongolians turned to illegal mining on properties
abandoned by larger mining companies.
LIST OF COAL MINES IN MONGOLIA
COAL INDUSTRY IN MONGOLIA
Companies active in Mongolia that we’re aware of. Note that this list has a giant blind spot when it
comes to Asian investments in the Mongolian mining sector, especially the many small-to-medium
scale investments form China.
Aspire Mining (AUS)
Banpu (THAI)
Mongolia Energy Corporation (HK)
Mongolian Mining Corporation (HK)
Nova Resources Ltd (SG)
Operta BBM (DE)
Prophecy Coal (CDN)
South Gobi Resources (CDN)
Terra Energy (AUS)
Tian Poh Resources (SG)
Viking Mines (AUS)
FUTURE OF COAL MINES
Coal is an abundant fuel source that is relatively inexpensive to produce and convert to useful
energy. However, producing and using coal affects the environment. So according to it has a very
dark future of coal mines in Mongolia.
Effects of coal mining
Surface mines (sometimes called strip mines) were the source of about 62% of the coal mined in the
United States in 2019. These mining operations remove the soil and rock above coal deposits, or
seams. The largest surface mines in the United States are in Wyoming’s Powder River Basin, where
coal deposits are close to the surface and are up to 70 feet thick.
Mountaintop removal and valley fill mining has affected large areas of the Appalachian Mountains
in West Virginia and Kentucky. In this form of coal extraction, the tops of mountains are removed
using explosives. This technique changes the landscape, and streams are sometimes covered with
rock and dirt. The water draining from these filled valleys may contain pollutants that can harm
aquatic wildlife downstream. Although mountaintop mining has existed since the 1970s, its use
became more widespread and controversial beginning in the 1990s.
U.S. laws require that dust and water run-off from areas affected by coal mining operations must be
controlled, and the area must be reclaimed close to its original condition.
Underground mines generally affect the landscape less than surface mines. However, the ground
above mine tunnels can collapse, and acidic water can drain from abandoned underground mines.
Methane gas that occurs in coal deposits can explode if it concentrates in underground mines. This
coabled methane must be vented out of mines to make mines safer places to work. In 2018,
methane emissions from coal mining and abandoned coal mines accounted for about 11% of total
U.S. methane emissions and about 1% of total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions (based on global
warming potential). Some mines capture and use or sell the coabled methane extracted from mines.
Emissions from burning coal
Several principal emissions result from coal combustion:
• Sulphur dioxide (SO2), which contributes to acid rain and respiratory illnesses
• Nitrogen oxides (NOx), which contribute to smog and respiratory illnesses
• Particulates, which contribute to smog, haze, and respiratory illnesses and lung disease
• Carbon dioxide (CO2), which is the primary greenhouse gas produced from burning fossil
fuels (coal, oil, and natural gas)
• Mercury and other heavy metals, which have been linked to both neurological and
developmental damage in humans and other animals
• Fly ash and bottom ash, which are residues created when power plants burn coal
In the past, fly ash was released into the air through the smokestack, but laws now require that most
emissions of fly ash be captured by pollution control devices. In the United States, fly ash and
bottom ash are generally stored near power plants or placed in landfills. Pollution leaching from
coal ash storage and landfills into groundwater and several large impoundments of coal ash that
ruptured are environmental concerns.
Reducing the environmental effects of coal use
The Clean Air Act and The Clean Water Act require industries to reduce pollutants released into the
air and water.
The coal industry has found several ways to reduce sulphur and other impurities from coal. The
industry has also found more effective ways of cleaning coal after it is mined, and some coal
consumers use low sulphur coal.
Power plants use flue gas desulfurization equipment, also known as scrubbers, to clean sulphur
from the smoke before it leaves their smokestacks. In addition, the coal industry and the U.S.
government have cooperated to develop technologies that can remove impurities from coal or that
can make coal more energy efficient, which reduces the amount of coal that is burned per unit of
useful energy produced.
Equipment intended mainly to reduce SO2, NOx, and particulate matter can also be used to reduce
mercury emissions from some types of coal. Scientists are also working on new ways to reduce
mercury emissions from coal-burning power plants.
Research is underway to address emissions of carbon dioxide from coal combustion. One method is
carbon capture, which separates CO2 from emissions sources and recovers it in a concentrated
stream. The CO2 can then be injected underground for permanent storage, or sequestration.
Reuse and recycling can also reduce the environmental effects of coal production and use. Land that
was previously used for coal mining can be reclaimed and used for airports, landfills, and golf
courses. Waste products captured by scrubbers can be used to produce products such as cement and
synthetic gypsum for wall board.
LARGEST COAL MINE IN MONGOLIA
The Tavan Tolgoi, the largest coal site in Mongolia, which has high-grade coal deposits is expected
to yield six billion tonnes of coal.
On July 4, 2011 it was announced that United States based Peabody Energy, China’s Shenhua
Group (神華能源) and a Russian-led consortium were selected to develop the Tavan Tolgoi coal
deposit in Mongolia. Authorities in the country stated that they hoped its mining industry could help
pull thousands of people out of poverty. The government announcement made no mention of
Japan’s Mitsui and South Korea’s Korea Resources Co — originally on the shortlist of preferred
bidders to develop Tavan Tolgoi.
Shenhua is to have a 40 percent share and Peabody 24 percent, while the remaining 36 percent is to
be held by the Russian-led consortium. The draft agreement is subject to parliamentary approval
and would be submitted to lawmakers. The selected companies will jointly develop the western part
of the Tsenkhi block of Tavan Tolgoi, which contains mainly coking coal. State-owned Erdenes
Tavan Tolgoi (ETT), set up to manage Mongolia’s coal mining interests, owns the rights to mine the
block, and will do so with its foreign partners.
Developers rejected
In mid-September 2011 Mongolia rejected plans for Peabody Energy, China’s Shenhua Group and a
Russian-Mongolian consortium to jointly develop the Tavan Tolgoi coal deposit. Mongolian
officials said they would hold new negotiations with various companies involved.
Public offering
In September 2011 it was reported that Mongolia will be selling a stake in its Erdenes Tavan Tolgoi
coal-mining company to the public in 2012, raising more than $3 billion. The sale would be the
nation’s largest IPO. The four investment banks currently selected to lead and arrange the share
offering are Deutsche Bank, BNP Paribas, Goldman Sachs and Macquarie Group. Erdenes is
expected to retain a stake in the Tavan mine with a consortium of US, Chinese and Russian
companies developing the project in return for a share.
World Bank flags coal development
In a 1995 review of the country’s energy policy, the World Bank signalled its support for the
development of a substantial export-oriented mine at Tavan Togloi. The bank noted that while there
was a small mine producing coal for local heating plants, far greater operations could be possible
with the development of infrastructure. The bank noted that “in a series [of] exploration activities
and feasibility studies during 1945-1985, Russian specialists identified huge coal reserves with low
stripping ratios in this area, with prospects for development of a 20 mtpy [million tonnes per
annum] thermal and coking coal mining operation. The thermal coal seams are reported as
exceptionally high quality (8,000 kcal/kg), as are the coking coal reserves, although the Russian
determinations of coking properties are not easily comparable with international testing parameters
and specifications. From a mining point of view, at least, there are very promising long-term
prospects for development on a large scale through private sector financing.
A mine developing the deposits, the report stated, “could both supply Mongolia’s thermal coal
requirements and provide exports of thermal and coking coal to Russia and/or China, or, through
these countries, to other international markets. International experts should assist MEGM to
undertake further review of the Russian evaluations completed in the past (including further
sampling and testing of the thermal and coking coal qualities), and to complete a preliminary
assessment of infrastructure (transport) needs, options, and costs.
Details of the deposit
According to Erdenes MGL the Tavan Tolgoi deposit comprises:
• comprise five mining licences — 11943À, 11953À, 11954A, 11955A, 11956A — over a
68,522 hectare mining field. The licences are all owned by Erdenes MGL LLC;
• the company states that the field has “poor infrastructure development” and an “improved
dirt road from Tavan Tolgoi to Gashuun Sukhait border crossing”;
• the deposit comprises 1,529 million metric tonnes of coking coal and 4,480 million tonnes
of thermal coal giving a total of 6,009 million tonnes;
• Coking coal calorific value 6500-7500 Kcal/kg; Sulphur content 0.6%; ash: 10%; moisture
content: 8.5%
• Thermal coal calorific value 4900 Kcal/kg; Sulphur content 0.8%; ash content: 20.1-33.3%;
moisture content: 8.5%.
• The project is targeting 15 million tonnes of production annually.
Timeline
• 1990’s: BHP Billion ton held the rights to the Tavan Tolgoi deposit. However, they
determined that the deposit was uneconomic and relinquished the rights to the project.
• August 2006: Energy Resources LLC was “granted with mining license MV-11952 for the
Ukhaa Khudag coking coal deposit covering area of 2,960 hectares and mining at Ukhaa
Khudag commenced in April, 2009.
• November 2007: The Mongolian government decided to establish a working group to
renegotiate the ownership and investment rights for Tavan Tolgoi which were held by
Energy Resources LLC, a consortium of Mongolian businessman. The then Mongolians
prime minister, Bayar Sanjaa, flagged the possibility of nationalizing Tavan Tolgoi following
public criticism of a draft investment agreement for the deposit. Under the draft agreement,
Energy Resources were to hold a 14% stake, other investors 36% and the government 50%.
• December 2007: The Mongolian government takes control the deposit. “Tavan Tolgoi has
become an issue of national security and public interests,” Sanjaa was reported as stating in
his inaugural speech in parliament.
• January 2009: BHP Billion ton withdraws its bid to hold a 49% stake in a company
developing the Tavan Tolgoi deposit. Subsequently, Peabody Energy met with Mongolian
government officials about the project.
• June 2010: Government announces plans to sell 30% of a company controlling the Tavan
Tolgoi deposit to help fund the $1.5 billion of development cost with the government
retaining a 40%;
• December 8, 2010: Erdenes MGL announces details of bidding process for seeking
companies that “will invest and cooperate in tenements” for the western Tsankhi section of
the Tavan Tolgoi coal deposit”. Erdenes states in the document that it is seeking “investors
that will conduct negotiations on transit transportation, prerequisites, upfront payment, port
utilization, and investment and product sales terms in relation to Tavan Tolgoi coal deposit
development as set out in Resolution No. 39 of the Parliament of Mongolia dated 2010 on
Tavan Tolgoi coal deposit development”. The selected bidder, the company stated, “shall
conduct operations by entering into a contract with Erdenes Tavan Tolgoi company on
investment and cooperation in coal mining in the coking coal areas at the Tavan Tolgoi
deposi”. The coal block is referred to as Tsankhi block 1, which is reported as having an
estimated 1.2 billion tons of coal.
• December 27, 2010: Erdences MGL releases details of bidding process for contract miners
seeking the development of the eastern Tsankhi deposits;
• January 17, 2011: Deadline for proposals for companies interested in investing in the
company developing the western Tsankhi, comprising approximately half the Tavan Tolgoi
deposits.
• January 27, 2011: Deadline for expressions of interest from contract-mining companies in
developing the eastern Tsankhi section of Tavan Tolgoi;
• February 2011: Mongolian government cancels auction of stake for private companies in
the Tavan Tolgoi deposits;
• March 2011: The Mongolian government selected six selected preferred bidders for the
development of Tsankhi block 1. The six, which began negotiations with the Mongolian
government on March 15, are:
• a Korea Resources Corporation led consortium which also includes Itochu
Corporation, Sumitomo Corporation, Marubeni Corporation, Sojitz Corporation and
OAO Russian Railways;
• Mitsui & Co. and Shenhua Group
• Peabody Energy
• Vale,
• Xstrata Coal
• ArcelorMittal (MT).
• June 2011: Mongolia’s prime minister states that coal mine will be operational in 2012, but
the country is still looking for outside bidders to manage the project.
• July 2011: Mongolia picks trio to develop mine, including United States based Peabody
Energy.
Mine Details
• Owner: Erdenes Tavan Tolgoi
• Parent company: Erdenes Tavan Tolgoi
• Location: Tsogttsetsii district, South Gobi province, Mongolia
• GPS coordinates: 43.625, 105.474167 (exact)
• Mine status: Proposed
• Annual Capacity: 15 – 30 mtpa
• Mineable reserves: 4,480 million tons (thermal); 1,529 million tons (metallurgical)
• Coal type: Thermal, Metallurgical
• Mine size: 68,522 hectares
• Mine type: Surface
• Start year:
• Life of Mine: 30 years
• Equipment:
• Number of employees:

Coal Mines In Belpahar Odisha, India

digant — Sat, 02 Jan 2021 14:18:40 +0000

History Of coal mines: The history of coal mine goes back thousands of years, with early mines documented in ancient China, the Roman Empire and other early historical economies. It became important in the Industrial Revolution of the 19th and 20th centuries, when it was primarily used to power steam engines, heat buildings and generate electricity. Coal mining continues as an important economic activity today, but has begun to decline due to the strong contribution coal plays in global warming and environmental issues, which result in decreasing demand and in some geographies, peak coal.

Compared to wood fuels, coal yields a higher amount of energy per mass and can often be obtained in areas where wood is not readily available. Though it was used historically as a domestic fuel, coal is now used mostly in industry, especially in smelting and alloy production, as well as electricity generation Large-scale coal mining developed during the Industrial revolution, and coal provided the main source of primary energy for industry and transportation in industrial areas from the 18th century to the 1950s. Coal remains an important energy source. Coal is also mined today on a large scale by open pit methods wherever the coal strata strike the surface or are relatively shallow. Britain developed the main techniques of underground coal mining from the late 18th century onward, with further progress being driven by 19th century and early 20th century progress. However, oil and gas were increasingly used as alternatives from the 1860s onward.By the late 20th century, coal was, for the most part, replaced in domestic as well as industrial and transportation usage by oil, natural gas or electricity produced from oil, gas, nuclear power or renewable energy sources. By 2010, coal produced over a fourth of the world’s energy. Since 1890, coal mining has also been a political and social issue. Coal miners’ labour and trade unions became powerful in many countries in the 20th century, and often, the miners were leaders of the Left or Socialist movements (as in Britain, Germany, Poland, Japan, Chile, Canada and the U.S.).Since 1970, environmental issues have been increasingly important, including the health of miners, destruction of the landscape from strip mines and mountaintop removal, air pollution, and coal combustion’s contribution to global warming. Coal was not known during the Mughal rule despite their contact with Europeans.Commercial exploitation began in 1774, John Sumner and Suetonius Grant Heatly of the East India Company setting up operations in the Raniganj Coalfield along the Western bank of river Damodar. Due to a lack of demand growth was sluggish until 1853, with the introduction of steamlocomotives to the fast-expanding rail system.As late as 1895, India imported large quantities of coal from Britain, but as domestic production increased and was found to be suitable for locomotives and ships, demand for coal imports declined dramatically. India’s export of coal increased, especially to Burma, Ceylon, and the Malay states.By 1900 production had risen to an annual average of 1 million tonne (mt) and India was producing 6.12 mts. per year by 1900[citation needed] and 18 mts per year by 1920.[citation needed] Temporary wartime demand (1914-1918) was followed by a slump in the 1930s. The production reached a level of 29 mts. by 1942 and 30 mts. by 1946.After India became independent, the new government stressed the rapid growth of heavy industry. The National Coal Development Corporation was founded in 1956 (as a Government of India) undertaking. The founding of this body was major step in the development of an indigenous Indian coal sector.

About the coal Mines: Coal mining is the process of extracting coal from the ground. Coal is valued for its energy content and since the 1880s, has been widely used to generate electricity. Steel and cement industries use coal as a fuel for extraction of iron from iron ore and for cement production. In the United Kingdom and South Africa, a coal mine and its structures are a colliery, a coal mine is a ‘pit’, and the above-ground structures are a ‘pit head’. In Australia, “colliery” generally refers to an underground coal mine. In the United States, “colliery” has been used to describe a coal mine operation, but this usage is less common. Coal mining has had many developments over the recent years, from the early days of men tunneling, digging, and manually extracting the coal on carts to large open cut and long wall mines. Mining at this scale requires the use of draglines, trucks, conveyors, hydraulic jacks and shearers.The coal mining industry has a long history of significant negative environmental impacts on local ecosystems, health impacts on local communities and workers, and contributes heavily to the global environmental crisises, such as poor air quality and climate change. For these reasons, coal has been one of the first fossil fuels to be phased out of various parts of the global energy economy.

Coal Industry: Coal is the most abundant fossil fuel resource in the country. India, currently, stands fifth in terms of total World Coal Resources, whereas it is third from the point of view of identified reserves.The coal occurrences in India are mainly distributed along the present day river valleys i.e. Damodar Valley, Sone-Mahanadi Valley, Pench-Kanhan Valley, Wardha-Godavari Valley etc. There are 69 major coalfields located in the peninsular India besides, 17 located in the north-eastern region. The bulk of the coal reserves are confined to the south-eastern quadrant of the country in West Bengal, Jharkand, Orissa, Chattisgarh & Madhya Pradesh. Other states where lignite deposits have been located are Rajasthan, Gujarat, Kerala, Jammu and Kashmir and Union Territory of Pondicherry.Basically, Indian coals have high mineral matter (ash) content unlike Pennsylvanian and Carboniferous coals of America and Europe respectively. India ranks third amongst the coal producing countries of the world in terms of annual coal production. The entire coal industry in India was nationalised during 1972-73 and then on massive investments were made by the Government of India in this basic infrastructure sector. India now ranks as the third largest coal producer of the World next only to China and USA.Mining depths in Indian coalfields are quite shallow, barring a few mines in Jharia and Raniganj coalfields. Deposit characteristics vary widely from coalfield to coalfield. In some areas like Jharia and Raniganj coalfields, high concentration of super imposed seams (as much as 40 in number) pose great challenge to mining operations. Presence of a large number of thick seams, though a blessing for open cast mining, is again a major underground mining problem. Reserves in steeply inclined seams are, however, only marginal.Geological inconsistencies like faults, folds, washouts etc, common in most of the coalfields, tend to reduce the mining potential of deposits. Intrusions such as dykes and sills often lead to operational problems and quality deterioration.Nearly all Indian Coal seams are prone to spontaneous heating. The incubation period varies widely from 2 to 12 months. However, compared to gas emission in other parts of the world, the coal seams in India are less gassy.Due to the very nature of deposition, Indian coals, in general, are of inferior quality owing to high ash percentage, when compared with coal available in the international trade arena.

Future of Coal Mines: The current administration favors coal, but that policy may not continue in future administrations. Displacing coal-fired power generation is a very cost-effective way to reduce U.S. energy-related greenhouse gas emissions, and thus could be targeted by a future administration more concerned about climate.Coal use is anticipated to increase 3.8 per cent in 2021. In the medium term (to 2025), India has one of the highest potentials to increase coal consumption as electricity demand rises and more steel and cement are required for infrastructure projects, as per the International Energy Agency said.

Coal Mines In Belpahar: Belpahar is a town and a municipality in Jharsuguda district in the state of Odisha, India. Belpahar is famous for its geographical location, as it is the center for many coal mines areas nearby. Krosaki TRL Limited is located in Belpahar while there is Mahanadi Coalfields Limited and Ib Thermal Power station in the vicinity. It has a railway station which levels 55 metres high above the sea level. This area is among the fastest-growing industrial zones in Odisha. Belpahar is surrounded by many coal mines. The IB thermal power plant is located near Belpahar. The major industry is TRL Krosaki Ltd. (formerly Tata Refactories Limited). Other important industries surrounding Belpahar are IB Thermal Power Plant and Mahanadi Coal Field. Other Industries:- (i) New Simplex Industries (ii) Shyam Engineering Works (iii) ICI Chemicals (iv) Ib Valley Metal Forming (P) Ltd.(By using Indiamart and justdial)

Coal Mines in Jharia , Jharkhand in India.

digant — Sat, 02 Jan 2021 13:46:38 +0000

Jharia coalfield is a large coal field located in the east of India in Jharia, Jharkhand. Jharia represents the largest coal reserves in India having estimated reserves of 19.4 billion tonnes of coking coal. The coalfield is an important contributor to the local economy, employing much of the local population either directly or indirectly.

The coal field lies in the Damodar River Valley, and covers about 110 square miles (280 square km), and produces bituminous coal suitable for coke. Most of India’s coal comes from Jharia. Jharia coal mines are India’s most important storehouse of prime coke coal used in blast furnaces, it consists of 23 large underground and nine large open cast mines.

Pollution capital

Not surprisingly, Jharia tops the list of polluted towns in India among the 313 surveyed in a recent Greenpeace India report. The Airpocalypse report, released in January this year by the environmental activist group, collated data on PM 10 in cities in 2017. PM 10, or particulate matter 10 micrometers or less in diameter, is a key air pollutant.

The report found that PM 10 level in Jharia was 295 µg/m3 (micrograms per cubic meter) in 2017, almost three times the permissible limit of 100 µg/m3, while the neighbouring city of Dhanbad registered PM 10 at 238 µg/m3 and was declared the ninth most polluted town in the country. Greenpeace said Jharia’s air would have 207 µg/m3 of PM 10 even if air pollution levels were trimmed by 30 percent by 2024.

Miner also to blame

Although the coal fires do give out noxious smoke, activists also hold current activities of Bharat Coking Coal Ltd (BCCL) responsible for the sorry state of Jharia’s air. Much of the environmental pollution in the area is due to the opencast mines operated by the state-owned company, a subsidiary of Coal India Ltd. Since the year 2000, BCCL has started opencast mining that involves the extraction of coal through an open pit or borrow.

Over 90 percent of the BCCL’s production comes from Jharia’s coalfields, which spans over 273 sq. km and contains an estimated coal reserve of 11,000 million tons. There is an increasing demand for coking coal, mainly in the steel industry, due to rapid industrialisation and urbanisation. In 2018-19, BCCL extracted 31.04 million tons of coal, out of which 30.14 million tons came from opencast mines, according to its annual report.Sales stood at about Rs 151 billion (USD 2.2 billion).

Rehab plan yet to take off

Since it’s not possible to put out the coal fires, it is important to relocate people living in close proximity to them. However, rehabilitation efforts leave a lot to be desired. In 2008, BCCL released a master plan to deal with the fire and land subsidence hazards and fixed a timeline of 12 years for resettlement and rehabilitation of local residents.

The responsibility of the resettlement was given to Jharia Rehabilitation and Development Authority (JRDA), which identified 595 sites, including 11 in West Bengal’s Raniganj area where BCCL also operates mines, that involved 79,000 families to be relocated by 2020. A budget of around Rs 70 billion was set aside for the purpose.

However, not much has been done since then. In 11 years, just 3,000 families have been rehabilitated so far to Belgoria, a new township around 15 km from Jharia. In the meanwhile, the number of families to be rehabilitated has swelled to around 140,000 from 79,000 families.

“The authorities cannot be completely blamed as people also refuse to move out because most of them are coal scavengers and have livelihood issues,” said Raju Rajak, in-charge, survey, JRDA. “We are trying to create alternative livelihoods in that area in order to hasten the shifting process.”

Even as the rehabilitation process moves at a snail’s pace, the outlook for the people in Jharia remains bleak. “Jharia would vanish in future, and there would be no trace of it,” prophesied Sharma, the area journalist. “The fire like a hungry demon would devour all of us, and pollution would only hasten the diminishing process.”

Burning for 100 years

Jharia is source of high quality coal in India, an important ingredient of India’s growth story. Coal supports the iron and steel industry, which, along with its subsidiary industries, thrive in the Jharkhand-Bengal-Chhattisgarh region. A good number of India’s trains, until early 90s, depended on coal to produce that sweet whistle and chugging sound.

Even today, over 65 percent of India’s power supply is generated from coal. Mining of coal in Jharia started in 1894, and has increased ever since. Today, Jharia is home to two large underground and nine large open cast mines

The first fire in Jharia mines was reported in 1916. It is not exactly known how the fire started. “Coal fires can be caused by lightening, forest fires, human accidents, and improper shutting down of old mines; and are common across the world.The fire in Jharia started when the mines were owned by private businessmen who exploited local labour and cared little about the miners’ safety,” says Ashish Thakur, a mining engineer who has lived in the area and has, over the years, developed keen interest in studying coal mine fires.

Rehabilitation efforts

Jharia is just seven kilometres away from Dhanbad, Jharkhand’s second largest town. The town, despite its banes, feeds an entire population. “The root to the problem is economic. Jharia’s wholesale market is the backbone of Dhanbad,” Saurav tells us.More than a thousand homes have been built by BCCL in their land to rehabilitate the population affected in the coal bearing areas. Locals, however, continue to remain suspicious of the authorities, who, in the past, have done little to help them.

BCCL has taken many actions to rehabilitate the population. “We built a township with school, provided housing, electricity and water supply at Belgaria. But since the township is nearly twenty kilometres from Dhanbad, no one wants to settle there,” Saurav adds.

Many residents of Jharia, defeated by the situation, have started settling in nearby places. Still others are shifting in flats built by the Jharia Rehabilitation and Development Authority (JRDA) away from the fire prone areas, but the process of rehabilitation is slow. Proving livelihood to the population remains a major hurdle.

“Our demand from the government is immediate rehabilitation of the residents who live in the danger zone, and provide them with government jobs,” says Pramod Kumar Matro, social activist and MLA Representative of Tundi. Pramod is also the secretary of Chhatra Neta Kendra, a youth organisation working for the rights of people residing in Jharia and nearby area.

Coal Mines in India

digant — Sat, 02 Jan 2021 13:44:18 +0000

The process of coal extraction from the Earth surface and from the underground is called coal mining. Coal is the most rich fossil fuel on earth. Its uppermost use has always been for producing heat energy. The coal production during 2019-20 in India was 729.10 MT along with 0.05% growth.

The very first coalfield in India was Raniganj where coal mining started in the year 1774. Coal is distributed in two following categories in India:

– Gondwana Coalfield that are 250 millions years old

– Territory Coalfield tat are 15 to 60 million years old

The Gondwana Coalfields

Gondwana coal is moisture-less and contains phosphorus and sulphur
The carbon content in Gondwana coal is less

Tertiary Coal Fields

Territory coalfields are rich in moisture and sulphur and Carbon content is less.
Tertiary coalfields are mainly confined to extra-peninsular regions
Territory coalfield areas are Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Himalayan foothills of Darjeeling in West Bengal, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Kerala.

Coal mines in India with the states and categories coalfields belong to:

Largest coal reserves in India:

JHARKHAND- 83.15 BILLION TONNES

Coal mining centers of the state are Jharia, Bokaro, Auranga, Giridh, Dhanbad, Ramgarh, Karanpur and Hutar. Jharia coalfield is the oldest and richest coalfield. It comes under Gondwana coalfield category.

ODISHA 79.30 BILLION TONNES

Odisha’s coal mining centers lie in the Dhenkanal, Sambalpur and Sundargarh districts. Biggest coalfield in Odisha is Talchar. It comes under Gondwana coalfield category.

CHHATTISGARH- 57 BILLION TONNES

Two biggest coalfields in Chhattisgarh are Hasdeo-Arand coalfield and Korba coalfield. The other coalfield situated in Chhattisgarh are Chirmiri, Johilla and Jhimli. It comes under Gondwana coalfield category.

WEST BENGAL- 31.67 BILLION TONNES

The districts covering West Bengal’s coal deposits are Darjeeling, Bardhman, Jalpaiguri, Bankura and Puruliya. The biggest coalfield in West Bengal is the Raniganj. It comes under Gondwana coalfield category.

MADHYA PRADESH- 27.99 BILLION TONNES

The coalfields in Madhya Pradesh are Singrauli, Satpura, Muhpani, Sohagpur and Pench Kanhan. Singrauli is the biggest coalfield in Madhya Pradesh. It comes under Gondwana coalfield category.

Some more coal mining states are:

Arunachal Pradesh: Singareni, Kothagudem, Kantapalli are the coal mines in Arunachal Pradesh. It comes under Gondwana coalfield category.

Tamil Nadu: Neyveli is the coal mine in Tamil Nadu. It comes under Territory coalfield category.

Maharashtra: Kamptee(Nagpur), Wun field, Wardha, Walarpur, Ghughus and Warora are the coal mines in Maharashtra.

Assam: Ledo, Makum, Najira, Janji, Jaipur are the coal mines in Assam. It comes under Territory coalfield category.

Meghalaya: Darrangiri (Garo hills), Cherrapunji, Liotryngew, Maolong and Langrin coalfields (Khasi & Jaintia Hills) are the coal mines in Meghalaya. It comes under Territory coalfield category.

History of coal mining:

Coal mining has been a part of India for at least 220 years. India has a vast history in coal mining which started in 1774 in the Raniganj coalfield along the western bank of river Damodar. WWI and the Introduction of steam locomotives were the major reason for the coal mining in India. Many coal miners loose their lives in coal mining and the situation of coal miners is shown in Bollywood movies many times. Coal played an important role in Britain’s industrial revolution, which it’s bad impact in India. Despite of Britain’s greed for coal from India, our country managed to be the best host for coal. The principal business house to mine coal in Raniganj was Carr Tagore and Company that later became Bengal Coal organization. East Indian railway (EIR) went to the locale a century later carrying with it the interest for coal for its trains. The railway line changed the whole elements of coal mining. Prior coal would be gathered at the pit heads to be taken in bullock trucks to the Damodar, and during the months the stream was travelled, taken to Calcutta by flatboats. This was flighty, costly, and on more than one occasion a season a freight boat would upset bringing about a major misfortune. The rail transport transformed it all. The coal brought to Calcutta cost just a small amount of the coal imported from England. Calcutta’s hunger for coal was getting more insatiable due to steam ships, jute industry new companies, and in particular, the hearths in a quickly developing municipality. EIR had the option to bring coal straightforwardly from pit heads to Calcutta in overabundance of its prerequisite.Soon Indian coal began getting traded. Steel-production came to India with the principal shoot heater at Kulti in 1874 by Bengal Iron works (as of now IISCO steel plant ) followed by TISCO at Tatanagar by turn of the century. Coal became dark precious stone. Then railways were steaming into the hinterland. Their own operational necessity of coal was sizable. Prior to the turn of the century, railroads procured their own mining lease in Giridih, later growing mining activities to close by fields of Bokaro and Kargali. So did the steel factories. TISCO and IISCO began their own hostage mines in Jharia fields by 1910. The primary warm force station came up at Hussain Sagar, Hyderabad in 1920 – by Nizam of Hyderabad – sourcing its coal from Singareni . The Hyderabad (Deccan) Company Limited had gained mining rights in 1886 to misuse coal found in Godavari valley.Gradually and consistently, coal additionally turned into the central player for power age after the main Great War. At the hour of Independence, India was creating 1300 MW of warm force.

Post Independence, interest for coal went up dramatically. Coal terminated all motors of development – rail, steel, waterway ships, power age, block furnaces, mechanical boilers and furthermore the ovens in kitchens. The steel, railroads, and somewhat power, had their own hostage mines; for the rest it was a free coal market. Public Coal Development Corporation was set up as a PSU in 1956 with base camp at Ranchi in compatibility of the Industrial Policy of the country. Lining up with the long term plans it began mining activities in Korba (MP), Singrauli (MP and UP), Talcher (Orissa), other than growing in Bihar and Bengal. The old mining centers of Raniganj and Jharia were getting tricky. Jharia coal is coking grade coal, low in sulfur and debris content. In the interim, interest for coal continued ascending as new steel plants and force stations came up. Subsequent to merging her situation in gathering and government, and floated over the triumph against Pakistan in the 1972 war, Indira Gandhi dove in. Adjusting to communist model of state-claimed center area undertaking, coking coal mine shafts were nationalized in 1972, to be quickly trailed by non-coking mines in 1973. Over the long run, Coal India Ltd was made as a holding organization with its auxiliaries hoarding coal mining the nation over. The lone special cases were hostage mines of TISCO and IISCO. Tasks in Andhra Pradesh proceeded with govt-possessed The Singareni Collieries Company Limited. By then of time, coal creation in the nation was 65 million tons.

Coal going from victor to washout in India’s energy future. India’s interest for power is relied upon to twofold in the following twenty years, and coal has been for quite some time estimate to be the fuel of decision for power age. But this may no longer be the case.

The reason behind this is neither that India doesn’t have plentiful reserves of coal or Indian reserves are expensive to mine or coal transportation is difficult. The main reason coal may fight to fuel India’s future energy needs is that it’s essentially getting too costly comparative with environmentally friendly power options, for example, wind and solar oriented. Recently, power supply barters have demonstrated that renewable can be offered at under 3 rupees (4 U.S. pennies) per kilowatt hour, a tax that coal-terminated generators experience issues coordinating. There is likewise zero possibility that new coal generators can deliver power at rates serious to renewable, given higher capital and working expenses. Rajit Desai, the head of designing, acquisition and development at significant private generator Tata Power, told a gathering at the current week’s Coaltrans India meeting that his organization wasn’t taking a gander at building up any new coal plants. Tata Power is planning to buy coal-fired power plants that are effectively distressed assets. A large number of these plants began development in the previous seven years, when force interest and value gauges for power were bullish. A portion of the plants under development or recently finished, however, have been not able to make sure about force buy concurrences with sufficiently high costs for them to work productively. This implies an organization, for example, Tata Power can purchase these brownfield plants at a markdown adequately steep to make them suitable at the power costs as of now being advertised.

Coal Mines In Australia

digant — Sat, 02 Jan 2021 13:43:57 +0000

Coal has been a useful resource for heat and electricity throughout the history. Australia has been the world’s fourth largest and biggest exporter of coal and around 60% of the nation’s electricity is currently produced in coal-fired power stations.
The Australian coal was first discovered in New South Wales by devastated survivors in August 1797, at Coalcliff, north of Wollongong and was confirmed by Dr George Bass. In Western Australia, the coal was discovered in 1846, found on the Murray River. In 1889, brown coal was found at Kuntha Hill South Australia, and on the Great Northern railway line.

The Coal Mining began in 1799 and the first export of Australian coal took place in 1801 to India. Australia’s black coals range from Permian to Jurassic in age. Australia’s locally important black coal mining operations include Leigh Creek in South Australia, Collie in Western Australia, and Fingal and Kimbolton in Tasmania. The principal black coal producing basins are the Bowen (Queensland) and Sydney (New South Wales) Basins.
Brown coal occurs in South Australia, Queensland and Victoria, Western Australia and Tasmania.

Currently, lignite is merely mined in Victoria where the open-cut mines at Anglesea, Loy Yang, Yallourn and Hazelwood supply coal to nearby power stations. Brown coal is additionally mined at Maddingley to supply soil conditioners and fertilisers. Coal is a leading Australian industry which is built on the hard work and efforts of Australians with the majority in regional areas.
In 2018-19 Australia exported $43.6 billion worth 184 Mt of metallurgical (steel-making) coal and $25.9 billion worth 210 Mt of thermal (energy) coal.
The Australian economy believes coal to be a source of reliable and affordable electricity.

Most of the coal mined in Australia was exported, with only around one quarter utilized in electricity generation across the country.
Employment within the coal mining industry in Australia has seen a decline in recent times, standing at 35,638 as of June 2018. To the Australian economy, mining industry has been traditionally a dominant contributor. In recent times, however, coal mining has faced criticism by environmental groups thanks to combustion emissions.

Australia’s major metallurgical coal markets are for India, Japan and China, which account collectively for around two-thirds of the exports. Metallurgical coal export to India and China have strongly increased over the past decade, in line with their expanding steel sectors, while the relative importance of Europe and Japan as export destinations has declined.
Australia has very large reserves of extremely high quality thermal coal (used for making steam and generating electricity) and coking coal (used for steel making) located in New South Wales and Queensland.

The industry is that the mineral industry’s largest employer.
Despite the difficulties related to coal production and use (concern over CO2 emissions), some 41 per cent of the world’s electricity is generated using coal and this proportion is continuing to increase.
In recent years, however, coal’s share of worldwide electricity generation has been declining – down from a peak in 2007 of a touch over 41 per cent, to 38 per cent in 2018. The key driver of this decline in export has increased global competition from less carbon-intensive energy sources, which are supported by lower gas prices and falling costs of renewable energy.

The investment in, and adoption of, these energy sources has partially been due to changes to environmental and energy policies globally, also because the private sector anticipating the transition to a lower carbon economy. Meanwhile, in countries such as India and other Asian countries, there has been a rise in coal’s share of electricity generation alongside rising energy demand within these countries.

Global coal production has increased significantly reflecting the large structural increases in global coal demand, over recent decades. Global production of coal has averaged around 8,000 Mt a year since 2010, which is nearly double the amount produced in the early 1990s. By far the largest producer of coal is China, accounting for driving most of the growth in production and nearly half of annual global production in recent decades.

Australia is home to the worlds four of the 10 largest coal mines, with China and United States being two of its main production rivals. Australia is the one of the biggest coal exporter in the world, producing about 510 million tons (Mt) in 2017/18, in which 75% was exported which makes Australia the third-largest fossil fuel exporter.

According to a report by Australia Institute, it mines about 57 tons of CO2 per person annually, which is about 10 times the global average. Here are the biggest coal mines in Australia.

Peak Downs coal mine: The Peak Downs coal mine is currently the country’s biggest coal mine. It is located in the Bowen Basin of central Queensland. This mine is producing hard coking coal since 1972. Last year it was estimated of holding 718Mt of recoverable coal reserves and produced more than 11.8Mt of metallurgical coal. It has been owned by Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA), a joint venture between BHP Billiton and Mitsubishi since 2001.

Mount Arthur coal mine: The Mount Arthur (Mt Arthur) coal mine began production in 1968, located in the Hunter Valley region of New South Wales. It is the eighth-largest gold mine in the world, and had recoverable coal reserves of 591Mt in 2019. The site is owned and operated by BHP Billiton. The mining operations consists of two open-cut areas — the Northern Open Cut and the Southern Open Cut. More than 20 coal seams are mined at Mt Arthur, and its annual coal production is more than 18Mt and has an estimated reserve life of 35 years.

Goonyella Riverside coal mine: The Goonyella Riverside coals mine is Australia’s third-biggest mine. It is located in the Bowen Basin. Goonyella and Riverside were originally operated as separate open-cut coal mines. Goonyella commenced operations in 1971, while the adjoining Riverside was brought into production in 1982. Both mines were merged into a single operation in 1989. It is estimated to hold 549Mt of recoverable coal reserves, including 530Mt of proved and 19Mt of probable ore reserves last year. The mine produced coking coal of 17.1Mt in the year 2019, compared with 15.8Mt of coal the previous year. There are plans now in place to implement autonomous haulage at the site.

Saraji coal mine: The Saraji coal mine is the world’s 10th-biggest by recoverable coal reserves. It is located in the Bowen Basin. Its multi-seam, open-cut mine has been producing up to 10Mt a year of high-quality metallurgical coal for export markets since 1974 and is operated by BMA. In 2019, the Saraji coal mine was estimated to contain a total of 502Mt of recoverable coal reserves including 442Mt of proven and 60Mt of probable coal reserves.

Coal Mines In Europe

digant — Sat, 02 Jan 2021 11:15:58 +0000

COAL MINING ?

As we can say it is a process that contains extraction of coal from the ground , coal is also called as a fossil fuel . There are four types of coal Anthracite , Bituminous, Subbituminous and Lignite . Anthracite contains 86% – 96% of carbon and mainly used by the metal industries, now about Bituminous it contains 45% – 85% of carbon and mainly used for making coking coal, this is about Subbituminous this contains 35% – 46% and mainly used for steam electric power generation, lets go to Lignite in contain of 25% – 36% of carbon and mainly used to generate electricity.

coal is also defined as per combustible black or brownish black sedimentary rock which contains high amount carbon and hydrocarbon and it’s analysed in renewable and not renewable too because it takes many years like around million of years to get formed but also absorbs the energy from plants and retain it till the overcomes hundred of years

Use Of Coal-

Coal is also used as fuel , it generates electric power , at some power plant it is used to make steam by burning and that steam turns the turbine that steam coal is also called as thermal coal, it is also used for alumina refineries, as well as in paper manufactures and the chemical and pharmaceutical industries.

Some products are also made with inclusion of coal in some quantity for eg. Soap, aspirins, rayon, nylon, plastic, fibers etc. there are also coking coal which is also known as metallurgical coal this coal is primarily used for steel production .

ABOUT EUROPEAN COAL MINES .

Coal mines in EUROPE

*COUNTRIES*	*First mine established date*	*PRODUCTION*
Belgium	Wallon coal basin 1 9 8 2	4,035,557 tons Approximate (4.035million)
France	Sainte marie Coal mine 1 9 5 8	12,900,349 tons Approximate (12.9million)
Germany	Hambach 1 9 8 4	176,000,000 tons Approximate (176 million)
Netherlands	Wilhelmina state mine 1 9 0 3	248,000,000 tons Approximate (248 million)
Romania	Petrila 1 8 5 9	25,344,312 tons Approximate (25.34 million)
Serbia	Senjski Rudnik 1 8 5 3	42,372,796 tons Approximate (42.3 million)
Spain	Vallina 16^th century	2,187,157.21 tons Approximate (2.18 million)
Ukraine	Donetz 1 8 7 0	39,260,975 tons Approximate (39.2 million )
United Kingdom	1^ST Coal mine is closed Began at 1 8 6 4	33,000,000 tons Approximate (33 million)
Russia	Raspadskaya 1 9 7 3	365,000,000 tons Approximate (365 million)
Poland	Szczakowa 1 7 6 7	131,000,000 tons Approximate (131 million)
And other small mines located in different countries	–	–

History of coal mines

The History of coal mining stars from New Brunswick in north America Canada in the early 1600s

From the 18^th to the 1950s coal remains an important energy source.

As per Europe firstly at the at the middle of 16^th century use of coal and need of coal started increasing rapidly instead of any other material , so the sir George Bruce (he is a printer of America also a industrialist and a inventor, he is of Carnock of Culross, Scotland) decided to establish a coal mine if it is being as needed thing and started the first coal mine from a moat pit which is almost under the sea on the firth of forth ( it is the estuary of several Scottish rivers including the river forth) and started extracting coal .

Coal Industry of Europe

Eurocoal production

The total production of Europe is approx. 509 million tons (509,000,000)

There are three majority production coal mines they are [ a. Germany (176mt) ] [ b. Russia (365mt) ]

[ c. Poland (131mt) ] .

Eurocoal export

The report from International Energy Agency talks about the export of Europe, according to IEA, Europe since 1990 uses the coal as fuel went from 5289 TWh in 1 9 9 0 to 3057 TWh in 2 0 1 5 their was reduction of 42% and during that same period use of coal was increasing day by day at ranked at 73% of usage. As per transportation modes coal is generally exported by water ways in the ride of ships.

Eurocoal labor employment

So as per the report there is the employment of approx. 150k from 1985 and was decreasing per year when decade of 2000 started their was difference of around 80k people , now goes above 50k means approx.. 52k means difference from 1985 till 2019 it is 100k.

Coal mining future in Europe

As there are many coal mines in Europe some crises arrives like for eg. Coal mine accident, land subsidence, damage to the water environment pollution or landscape change, so at the future because of this crisis

All the mines can have a great loss at certain point it can get close for safety.

Recently In September 26 2020 in Germany their was an protest against coal that is anti coal campaign in that hundreds of people was their to support.

For your convenience read this para of official article of AP News.

LUETZERATH, Germany (AP) — Hundreds of anti-coal activists staged protesters in and around a mine in western Germany on Saturday, demonstrating against the continued extraction and use of fossil fuels in Europe’s biggest economy.

Environmental groups oppose the German government’s decision to allow the mining and burning of coal in the country until 2038, a deadline the activists say is too late to effectively tackle climate change.

Activists, dressed in colored overalls and braving wind and rain, were also protesting the planned destruction of several villages to make way for the expansion of the Garzweiler strip mine, west of Cologne

But also there is a condition like the coal is the is primarily used to generate electric power and it is one of one important source which this world have so government will not be able to stop the process for the same but they can have some or the other precaution or some other care .

The biggest coal mine in Europe

There are many coal mines in Europe but as per 2019 reports in Poland their was one of the most coal production cause that have been happened in 2019 so that was considered a most profited coal mine/reserve so it is the biggest coal mine of Europe even their production as compare to the other is well maximum.

As we are saying that Poland has a max volume production of coal in Europe in 2019 because their production at last year was 90% of total EU coal production.