COAL

What is coal?
• Coal is an organic rock (as opposed to most other rocks in the earth's crust,
such as clays and sandstone, which are inorganic); it contains mostly carbon
(C), but it also has hydrogen (H), oxygen (O), sulphur (S) and nitrogen (N),
as well as some inorganic constituents (minerals) and water (H2O).
• Coal is playing an important role in delivering energy access, because
it is widely available, safe, reliable and relatively low cost.
• One of the major challenges facing the world at present is that
approximately 1.2 billion people live without any access to modern
energy services.
• Access to energy is a fundamental pre-requisite for modern life and a
key tool in eradicating extreme poverty across the globe.
History of Coal
Coal formation began during the Carboniferous Period -
known as the first coal age - which spanned 360 million to
290 million years ago. The build-up of silt and other
sediments, together with movements in the earth's crust -
known as tectonic movements - buried swamps and peat bogs,
often to great depths. With burial, the plant material was
subjected to high temperatures and pressures. This caused
physical and chemical changes in the vegetation, transforming
it into peat and then into coal.
Coalification
• The degree of change undergone by a coal as it matures from
peat to anthracite is known as coalification. Coalification has
an important bearing on coal's physical and chemical
properties and is referred to as the 'rank' of the coal. Ranking
is determined by the degree of transformation of the original
plant material to carbon. The ranks of coals, from those with
the least carbon to those with the most carbon, are lignite,
sub-bituminous, bituminous and anthracite.
• In addition to carbon, coals contain hydrogen, oxygen,
nitrogen and varying amounts of sulphur. High-rank coals are
high in carbon and therefore heat value, but low in hydrogen
and oxygen. Low-rank coals are low in carbon but high in
hydrogen and oxygen content. Different types of coal also
have different uses.
Coal quality
• The quality of each coal deposit is determined by:
• Types of vegetation from which the coal originated
• Depths of burial
• Temperatures and pressures at those depths
• Length of time the coal has been forming in the
deposit
Global Coal Reserves
• Coal reserves are available in almost every country
worldwide, with recoverable reserves in around 70
countries. The biggest reserves are in the USA, Russia,
China and India.
• There are an estimated 892 billion tonnes of proven coal
reserves worldwide. This means that there is enough coal to
last us around 190 years at current rates of production. In
contrast, proven oil and gas reserves are equivalent to
around 52 and 54 years at current production levels.
Peak coal?
Falls in the coal reserves-to-production (R/P) ratios over recent
years have prompted questions over whether we have reached
'peak coal'. Peak coal is the point in time at which the
maximum global coal production rate is reached after
which the rate of production will enter irreversible decline.
However, falls in the RP ratio can be attributed to the lack of
incentives to prove up reserves, rather than a lack of coal
resources. Exploration activity is typically carried out by
mining companies with short planning horizons rather than
state-funded geological surveys. There is no economic need for
companies to prove long-term reserves. All fossil fuels will
eventually run out and it is essential that we use them as
efficiently as possible.
 Coal Production
• Over 4030 Mt of coal is currently produced – a 38% increase over the
past 20 years. Coal production has grown fastest in Asia, while Europe
has actually seen a decline in production.
• The largest coal producing countries are not confined to one region –
the top five producers are China, the USA, India, Australia and South
Africa. Only around 18% of hard coal production is destined for the
international coal market.
• Global coal production is expected to reach 7 billion tonnes in 2030 –
with China accounting for around half the increase over this period.
Steam coal production is projected to have reached around 5.2 billion
tonnes; coking coal 624 million tonnes; and brown coal 1.2 billion
tonnes.
World’s Coal Production Trends
World’s Coal Consumption Trends
Coal Mining
Coal is mined by two methods
• surface or ‘opencast’ mining
• underground or ‘deep’ mining
The choice of mining method is largely determined by the
geology of the coal deposit. Underground mining currently
accounts for about 60% of world coal production,
although in several important coal producing countries
surface mining is more common. Surface mining accounts
for around 80% of production in Australia, while in the
USA it is used for about 67% of production.
Coal Mining & Environment
• Soil erosion, and land disturbance
• Mine Subsidence
• Dust and noise pollution
• water pollution, and
• impacts on local biodiversity.
Coal seam
methane
• Methane (CH4) is a gas formed as part of the process of coal formation. When coal
is mined, methane is released from the coal seam and the surrounding disturbed
rock strata. Methane can also be released as a result of natural erosion or faulting.
• About coal seam methane
• The methane content in coal seams generally increases the deeper the seam, and
also with age. As the depth of the coal seam increases, so does the pressure level.
This in turn reduces the level of permeability, causing the methane to be much
more tightly bound to the coal and surrounding rock strata. Underground mining
can therefore produce substantially greater levels of methane than surface mining.
In fact, underground mines account for the overwhelming majority (up to 90%) of
all methane emissions from the coal sector.
• Methane is highly combustible – its release can have serious implications for the
safety of mine operations. It is also a potent greenhouse gas (GHG).
• Tackling methane emissions is therefore an important step in meeting the
challenge of climate change and in ensuring the safety of mining operations.
Methane can also act as a valuable source of energy- it is the principal constituent
of natural gas - allowing countries to further diversify their energy supplies.
 Recovering coal seam methane
• A range of technologies are available to recover methane from coal:
• Coal Bed Methane (CBM)
• Methane recovered from un-mined coal seams. The coal seams may be mined
in the future but this is largely dependent upon geological factors, such as coal
depth and quality.
• Coal Mine Methane (CMM)
• Methane recovered during mining activities as the coal is in the process of
being extracted and thus emitting significant quantities of the gas.
• Abandoned Mine Methane (AMM)
• Methane recovered from mines that have been abandoned following the
completion of mining operations. Significant amounts of methane may remain
trapped in the mine or may continue to be emitted from openings.
Coal Use & Environment
• release of pollutants, such as oxides of sulphur and nitrogen
(SOx and NOx), and particulate and trace elements, such as
mercury, have been a challenge
• A more recent challenge has been that of carbon dioxide
emissions (CO2). The release of CO2 into the atmosphere
from human activities – often referred to as anthropogenic
emissions – has been linked to global warming. The
combustion of fossil fuels is a major source of anthropogenic
emissions worldwide.
 What Are Cleaner Coal Technologies?
• High Efficiency Low Emission (HELE) technologies are a group
of technologies developed to increase the amount of energy that
can be generated from a coal plant while decreasing emissions.
• 75% of the global coal plants utilise subcritical technology
• On a global scale, HELE coal technology has the potential to make
a huge impact to reducing emissions. Raising the average global
efficiency of coal plants from 33 per cent to 40 per cent would save
two giga-tons of CO2 emissions. These two giga-tons would be far
more effective than many of the climate actions we’ve already
taken
• SUBCRITICAL BOILER TECHNOLOGY
These have efficiencies of about 30% and are the most common type of plant globally because they are faster
and less costly to build when compared to other technologies
• SUPERCRITICAL
22% of the global coal-fired power fleet
thermal efficiencies of about 40%
High capital costs
operates at higher steam pressures and temperatures.
The higher costs may be partially or wholly offset by fuel savings (depending on the price of fuel).
With respect to CO2 emissions, a supercritical plant emits around 20% less than a subcritical plant5.
• ULTRA SUPERCRITICAL
uses even higher temperatures and pressure
efficiency up to 45%.
Currently, around 3% of the global coal fleet uses such technology. The technology also reduces CO2
emissions by up to a third when compared to subcritical plants with the same amount of coal input
improved plant efficiencies and reduce fuel costs6.
USC technology use high quality, low ash coal and these plants have very
high capital cost which is about 40-50% more than a subcritical plant
USC plants operate at up to 620°C, with steam pressures from 25 MPa to 29 MPa.
• ADVANCED ULTRA SUPERCRITICAL
further modification of USC is AUSC technology.
This uses much higher temperatures and pressure
more expensive to build than USC plants.
an AUSC plant emissions would be 20% less than supercritical plants and efficiencies could be close to 50%7.
CO2 reduction of potential coal-fired power plants by increased efficiency

1 % increase in
efficiency = 2 -3 %
decrease in emissions
 Carbon Use & Storage (CCUS)
• Contribution of different technologies to cumulative annual emissions
reductions
• Electricity savings 28%
• Fuel switching and efficiency 2%
• CCUS 12%
• Nuclear 13%
• Other renewals 3%
• Wind 15%
• Solar 16%
• Hydro 5%
• Biomass 6%
 COAL FIRED ROUTE TO CO2 REDUCTIONS
• COAL UPGRADING = Upto 5% CO2 Reductions
+
• EFFICIENCY IMPROVEMENTS = Upto 22% CO2 Reductions
OF EXISTING PLANTS
+ = Upto 25% CO2 Reductions
• ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES
+ = Upto 99% CO2 Reductions
• ZERO EMISSIONS (UCCS)
Paris Agreement National Commitments
• The foundation of the COP21 Paris Agreement is the
commitments countries made in the lead-up to the summit
• 19 countries, representing 44% of the world’s emissions,
committed to reduce emissions from coal-based energy
generation and agreed that they will deploy HELE coal
technologies to support their emission reductions. That
means, by 2040, coal will still be a big part of the world’s
electricity mix.
Compared to 2.4%
since 2000
Scenario of COAL in
PAKISTAN
 Province Resources in Heating Value
Million Tonnes (Btu/lb)

Sindh 184,623 5,219 -13,555

Balochistan 217 9,637 -15,499

Punjab 235 9,472 -15,801

NWFP 91 9,386 -14,217

AJK 9 7,336 -12,338

Total 185,175
Sindh
Coal Field Resources in Heating Value
Million Tonnes (Btu/lb)

Thar 175,506 6,244-11,045

Lakhra 1,328 5,503-9,158

Sonda-Jherruck 5,523 5,219-13,555

Meting-Jhimpur 473 5,219-8,612

Indus East 1,777 7,782-8,660

Badin 16 11,415-11,521

Sub-Total 184,623
Balochistan

Coal Field Resources in Heating Value

Million Tonnes (Btu/lb)

Sor-Range/Degari 50 11,245-13,900

Khost-Sharigh-Harnai-Ziarat 88 9,637-15,499
Mach 23 11,110-12,937
Duki 56 10,131-14,357
Sub-Total 217
Punjab
Coal Field Resources in Heating Value
Million Tonnes (Btu/lb)
Salt-Range 213 9,472 – 15,801
Makarwal 22 10,688 – 14,029
Sub-Total 235
KHAYBAR PK
Coal Field Resources in Heating Value
Million Tonnes (Btu/lb)
Hangu 82 10,500 – 14,149
Cherat 9 9,386 – 14,217
Sub-Total 91
Azad Kashmir
Coal Field Resources in Heating Value
Million Tonnes (Btu/lb)
Kotli 9 7,336 – 12,338
Coal Power Plants In Pakistan
Coal Power Plantss (In service)

Capacity
Station Location Notes
(MW)

Khanot, Jamshoro, Si
Lakhra Coal Power Station 150 Operational.
ndh

Iskandarabad, Mianwali,
Maple Leaf Power Limited 40 Operational.
Punjab

Sahiwal Coal Power Project Sahiwal, Punjab 1320 Operational.

Port
Port Qasim Coal Power Project 1320 Operational.
Qasim, Karachi, Sindh

Thar Engro Powergen Project Tharparkar, Sindh 660 Operational.

Coal Power Plants
Under construction or Proposed
Capacity
Station Location Notes
(MW)

Siddiqsons Energy Limited Port Qasim, Karachi, Sindh 350 Under construction

K-Electric Coal Power Plant Karachi, Sindh 660 Under construction

Hub Coal Power Project Hub, Balochistan 660 Under construction

Jamshoro Coal Power Project Jamshoro, Sindh 600 Under construction

Muzaffargarh Sugarcane Husk Power

Muzaffargarh, Punjab 120 Under construction
Project

Thar Energy Limited Tharparkar, Sindh 330 Under construction.

Thar Coal Power Plant Tharparkar, Sindh 1320 LOI issued

Gadani Energy Park Gadani, Balochistan 6600 Proposed

TOE
• Unit representing energy generated by burning one
metric ton(1000 kilograms or 2204.68 pounds) or 7.4
barrels of oil, equivalent to the energy obtained
from1270 cubic meters of natural gas or 1.4metric tons
of coal that is,41.87 gigajoules(GJ),39.68 million Btu
(MMBtu),or11.63 mega watthours(MWh)
 British thermal unit
• The British thermal unit (Btu or BTU) is a traditional unit of heat it is
defined as the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of one
pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit It is part of the British
Imperial system of units Its counterpart in the metric ( system is the
calorie, which is defined as the amount of heat required to raise the
temperature of one gram of water by one degree Celsius Heat is now
known to be equivalent to energy, for which the metric unit is the
joule one BTU is about 1055 joules.
 Resource and Reserve
• The term resource refers to the total amount of a material or
primary energy flow that exists Conversely, reserves are deposits
of fossil fuels that are known to exist with a reasonable level of
certainty based on geological and engineering studies These
reserves are also recoverable economically with the technologies
that already exist.
 Resource and Reserve
• Resource includes fuel that is both discovered and undiscovered,
economically recoverable or not economically recoverable.

• This means that the amount of fossil fuel in a

reserve will be less than the total amount of that fossil fuel
resource as the resource encompasses all of the fuel that could
exist, regardless of whether it is recoverable or known to exist.