Key parameters for Coal Exploration and Mine License in Ethiopia (Benishangul-Gumuez) Brief Summary August, 2020Coal Formation General Overview of Coal ‘Classification of Coal Table of Content [Bituminous Anthracite Coal Utilization Coal Mining Surface Mining Underground (or deep) Mining Application of Coal ‘Coal deposit at Kaamash Zone of Bernshangul Regional License 12 License 13General Overview of Coal Coal is a fossil fuel created from the remains of plants that lived and died about 100 to 400 million years Coal Formation Through geological processes apply pressure to peat over time; it is transformed successively into different rank of coal. The phases in coal formation are; peat, lignite, bituminous and anthracite. Phase One - Peat is the first stage in the formation of coal. Normally, vegetable matter is oxidized to water and carbon dioxide. However, if plant material accumulates underwater, oxygen is not present and so only partial decomposition occurs (Breton & Peat, 1998.). This incomplete destruction leads to the accumulation of an organic substance called peat. It is a rubbery, softy substance in which plant remains are easily recognizable. It contains a large amount of water and must be dried before use. Therefore, it is rarely used as a source of heat. Phase Two - Lignite It is the second stage, which is formed when peat is subjected to increased vertical pressure from accumulating sediments. Lignite is dark brown in color and, like peat, contains traces of plants. It is found in many places but is used only when more efficient fuel is not available (Rattana kawin& Tara, 2012). Phase Three - Bituminous Coal Bituminous Coal is the third stage. Added pressure has made it compact and virtually all traces of plant life have disappeared. Also known as “soft coal”, bituminous coal is the type of coal is most abundant fuel (Wickstrom, 2008). It has a higher heating value than either lignite but less than that of anthracite. Phase Four - Anthracite Anthracite, the fourth stage in coal formation, is also known as "hard coal” because it is hard and has a high luster. It appears to have been formed as a result of combined pressure and high temperature. Anthracite burns with a short flame and little smoke and has the highest energy content of all coals(Tip, 2005).Classification of Coal ‘An ASTM procedure to classify coal by rank (low to high) approximates the heating value, fixed carbon, moisture content and volatile matter in coal (Radovic, 1997). ignite and sub-bituminous are considered low rank coals, characterized by light brown or dull black color, high moisture content, and a low heating value. By comparison, bituminous coal and anthracite are high rank coals, black and reflective in appearance with less moisture and a higher heating value from more fixed carbon. Sub- bituminous and bituminous coals are the most abundant types of reserves worldwide(Logan & Wickstrom, 2008) . ASTM classification by rank; Coals are classified by rank, i.e., according to the degree of metamorphism, or progressive alteration, in the natural series from lignite to anthracite, In the ASTM classification, the basic criteria are the fixed carbon and the calorific values calculated on a mineral-matter-free basis. It is necessary, in establishing the rank of coals, to use information showing an appreciable and systematic variation with age. For the older coals, a good criterion is the “dry, mineral-matter-free fixed carbon or volatile." However, this value is not suitable for designating the rank of the younger coals. A dependable means of classifying the latter is the "moist, mineral-matter-free Btu, which varies little for the older coals but appreciably and systematically for younger coals. Proximate analyses and higher heating values are used in making the Parr calculations (Ktosowiak et al., 2005). Lignite: The name Lignite is derived from the Latin word “Lignum,” which means, ,wood’, leftovers of wood fiber are often visible on it. Lignite is the lowest rank of coal with the lowest energy content and relatively a geologically young coal deposits that were not subjected to extreme heat or pressure. It has relatively high moisture content and lowest carbon content, 25- 40 percent, and a heat value ranging between 6,300 and 8,300 BTU/|Ib (Tip, 2005.). Sub-bituminous: The properties of sub-bituminous coal are range between from the level of lignite to those of bituminous coal and which has a higher heating value than lignite. Most sub-bituminous coal is at a minimum of 100 million years old. In grading below bituminous are known as sub-bituminous coal with 35- 45 percent carbon content and a heat value between 8,300 and 11,500 BTU/Ib. Although its heat value is greater than lignite, and generally has a lower sulfur content as compared other types, which makes it attractive for use because it is cleaner burning (Radovic, 1997).Bituminous coal: Bituminous coal is more solid coal contains 45 to 86 percent carbon, and has relatively high heating value as compared with lignite coal which has the range between (11,500 to 15,500 BTU/Ib). It was formed through high heat and Pressure, and is used to’ generate electricity and is an important fuel for different industries like steel and iron industries. Anthracite Anthracite coal is a form of coal that is almost made entirely of carbon. it is much harder than other forms of coal such as bituminous, and is usually found in areas surrounding mountains or deep valleys. Anthracite burns much cleaner than other forms of coal due to its low pollutant content. In fact, anthracite may contain 86% to 98% pure carbon, leaving only 2% to 14% of other elements. Anthracite coal is difficult to ignite and burns with a blue, smokeless flame. It advantage are produces very little pollution or soot, making it a very clean source of heat, and very efficient because only a small amount needs to be burnt to produce a large amount of energy (In & Metallurgical, 2013). Coal Utilization There are three major ways for coal utilization. These are illustrated in the following figure 2.5 (National Energy Strategy, Executive Summary, 1991/1992). The principal process by which coal is used for combustion; it involves burning the coal in air to liberate thermal energy (heat). Carbonization is the heating of coal to high temperatures in the absence of air; it is used in manufacturing coke for the metallurgical industry. Conversion uses various chemical processes to transform coal into gaseous or liquid fuels, called synthetic fuels. Common to all these Processes is prior mining of the coal, its preparation (processing) and its transportation to the consumers. Coal Mining Coal must be mined to get it from the ground to the house holed, factories or electrical power plants where it will be used. Two broad categories of mining techniques are used, such as surface mining and underground mining.It can be used when the coal is submerged distance is less than 60 m underground, In this activity the topsoil and layers of rock are removed to expose large deposits Of coal. The coal is then removed by machines or human power. Once the mining is finished, the mined area is retrieved. The dirt and rock are returned to the ditch, the topsoil is replaced, and the area is planted. The land can then be used for croplands, wildlife habitats, recreation, or other purpose (Colonial, 2016). Underground (or deep) Mining It is used when the coal is buried deep of 305m within the Earth. To remove coal from underground mines, miners are transported down mine shafts to run machines that dig out the coal(Colonial, 2016). Coal Preparation (Processing): Once the coal has been mined, it is usually processed to separate the inorganic, ash- forming components and to produce appropriately sized particles, The various operations involved in this processing are collectively known as coal preparation or coal beneficiation. The degree of preparation depends on the intended use of the coal. Coal Transportation: After the coal has been prepared, it will be transported to the point of Use. It may then be stored at the plant site for some time before being consumed. Application of Coal Coal has many important applications throughout the world; the most. significant uses of coal are in (electricity generation, steel production, cement manufacturing and source of energy for household) and uses for different chemical and pharmaceutical industries, paper manufacturing, and also several chemical products can produced from the by-product of coal; such as from refined coal tar can be manufactured different chemicals(phenol, benzene naphthalene etc.) after undergoing through gasification and combustion process. Coal deposit at Kaamash Zone of Bernshangul Regional State Kamashi is one of the three Zones in the Benishangul-Gumuz Region of Ethiopia. It Covers part of the southern bank of the Abay and the valley of the Didessa Rivers. The Zone is bordered on the south and east by the Oromia Region, on the west by the ‘Asosa and Sudan, and on the north by Metekel and the Amhara Region, which lie on the further bank of the Abay. The majority ethnic group in the zone is the Gumuz People, with significant Amhara and Oromo minorities as well.Coal mining License area at kamahi zone is presented bellow with all required parameters. The grade and quality of the coal in the area is of a reasonable standard used for cement industry. Based on carbon content and calaoric value, the coal at Kamashizone is classified as Sub-bituminous and bituminous a Nekemte on oy Map data 62020License 1 CodeNo | Moisture | Volatile | Fixed Ash% | Calorific ‘Sulfur % % Matter % | Carbon % Value Cal/gm Sample-1_ [11.79 | 30.77 30.87 26.56 | 4259.36 2.00 Sample-2 [13.63 | 37.87 39.94 856 | 5701.12 2.10 Sample-3 [6.35 16.34 789 69.72 | 662.51 0.82 No __| Easting(Degree) Northing(Degree) 1 36° 08" 28.19E ‘09 147 33.007 N 2 36°08" 15.52"E 09° 14°29.77 N 3 36° 08" 21.62"E 09 14°21.107 N 4 36°08" 30.04" E 09" 14°23.12" NLicense 2 CodeNo Moisture [Volatile |Fixed | |Ash% |Calorific | Sulfur % | % Matter % | Carbon % | Value Cal/gm Sample-1 [15.91 | 27.08 34.45 22.56 | 4401.57 8.15 ‘Sample-2 [16.83 | 25.20 26.59 31.38 | 3305.55 4.67 Sample-3 | 16.33 26.19 26.35 31.13 | 3376.76 4.39 [Sample-4 20.96 [32.58 27.06 1940 | [02 | Sample-5 [13.22 [35.66 [37.46 13.66 9.06 Sample-5D [13.26 [35.89 | 37.00 13.58 (553158 | 9.27 | Sample-44 | 15.26 (24.13 2387 |36.71 |306024 (554 | No _ | Easting(Degree) | Northing(Degree) 1 36° 08' 20.8°E. ‘09° 08' 47.0" N 2 36° 08" 29.0°E 09° 08" 42.0" N { 3 36° 08" 42.3"E 09° 08’ 42.0°° N [4 36°08" 468"E [09 0847-7" N | Pe CeeLicense 3 CodeNo | Moisture | Volatile | Fixed Ash% | Calorific ‘Sulfur % % Matter % | Carbon % Value Cal/gm Sample-1 [17.04 | 38.91 39.36 469 ‘| 5516.71 3.64 12.09 35.91 49.89 2.10 5890.42 15 15.50 | 39.42 36.36 8.72 | 5677.45 3.82 ple-4 [23.05 | 35.64 34.12 749 | 5120.49 342 {No _ | Easting(Degree) ___ [Northing(Degree) 1 36° 10° 44.78" E 09° 08" 16.79" N 2 36° 10° 36.74"E 09° 08" 05217 N 3 36° 10° 41.87"E 09° 07° 59.30°° N 4 36°10 48.62" E ‘09° 08" 03.98" NLicense 4 CodeNo | Moisture | Volatile | Fixed Ash% | Calorific Sulfur % % Matter % | Carbon % Value Cal/gm Sample-1 18.33 34.27 41.03 3.37 5345.61 145 Sample-2 [15.16 | 40.26 40.38 449 | 5552.37 3.33 Sample-3 [1349 | 39.77 39.38 736 [5109.60 =| 5.96 No _|Easting(Degree) Northing(Degree) 1 36° 10° 46.98"E (09° 09" 30.18" 2 36° 10° 41.58"E 09 097 Ts 3 36°10 45.10°E 09° 09° 14.70" N 4 36° 10° 49.87°E ‘09° 09" 16.03” N 5 36° 10° 53.04°E 09° 09 25.69" N CeaseLicense 5 Sample Moisture | Volatile | Fixed Ash% | Calorific Sulfur % CodeNo | % Matter % | Carbon % Value Cal/gm AL 3.08 39.72 46.34 10.86 | 6033.61 3.97 a2 7.62 37.09 42.47 12.82 | 5491.86 436 BL 449 38.58 47.03 9:90 [5841.23 5.79 B2 6.82 38.37 38.37 926 | 5684.94 5.07 No __| Easting(Degree) Northing(Degree) 1 36° 08" 11.32"E (09° 14" 42.16" N 2 36°08" 18.73" E 09 14° 42.51 N 3 36° 08" 18.79"E 09° 147 56.88" N 4 [30°08 1132" 09° 14° 56.717 N License 6 ‘Sample Moisture | Volatile _ | Fixed Ash% | Calorific Sulfur % CodeNo | % Matter % | Carbon % Value Cal/gm Sample-01 [28.86 | 31.04 32.05 8.06 | 4664.65 0.79 Sample-02 [22.11 | 33.76 30.59 13.54 | 471148 3.57 Sample-03 [25.14 [30.71 34.67 948 | 4631.55 1.85 No __| Easting(Degree) Northing(Degree) 1 36° 08" 02.38" E (09° 14° 06.98" N 2) 36° 08" 10.82" E 09° 14° 05.14" N 3 36° 08" 22.60°E 09° 14° 16.78" N 4 36°08 17.9" E 09" 14° 18.967 NLicense 7 CodeNo | Moisture | Volatile | Fixed Ash% | Calorific ‘Sulfur % % Matter % | Carbon % Value Cal/gm Sample-01 [19.10 | 33.36 38.62 8.92 | 4903.07 2.65 ‘Sample-02 | 20.21 33.36 38.19 794 | 4778.88 1.96 ‘Sample-03 | 19.53 33.10 37.92 945 | 4792.50 2.22 No __ | Easting(Degree) Northing(Degree) 1 36° 08" 44.74°E 09° 13° 50.387 N 2 36°08" 44.74"E, 09°13" 45.51 N 3 36° 09° 4.40°E 08 13° 43.37" N 4 36° 09° 4.85°E 09 13° 49.407 N License 8 CodeNo | Moisture | Volatile | Fixed Ash% | Calorific Sulfur % % Matter % | Carbon % Value Cal/gm Sample-1 | 11.79 30.77 30.87 26.56 | 4259.36 2.00 ‘Sample-2 | 13.63 37.87 39.94 856 | 5701.12 2.10 No __| Easting(Degree) Northing(Degree) 1 35° 56°33.65 “E (09° 28" 43.93 2 35° 5643.21 “E (09° 28" 37.82" N 5 35° 5641.43 “E 09° 28" 34.147 N 4 35° 56°54.10 “E 09° 28° 25.81" N 5 35° 5652.18 “E (09° 28" 23.26" N 6 35° 5645.25 “E 09° 28° 27.71" N 7 35° 5646.20 “E 09° 287 29.247 N 8 35° 5629.93 “E 09 28" 38.97" NLicense 10 CodeNo | Moisture | Volatile | Fixed Ash % | Calorific Sulfur % % Matter % | Carbon % Value Cal/gm coi [2.84 25.48 41.27 30.41 | 5265.32 0.59 No __| Easting(Degree) Northing(Degree) 1 35° 55” 57.6458" E 09° 29° 26.4548” 2 35° 357 49.9293" E 09° 29" 24.3189 N a 35° 55° 47.9100" E 09° 29° 29.4700" N 4 35°55" 45.4000" E 09° 29° 32.2000” N 5 35° 35° 48.9092" E 09° 29° 36.5234" N 6 35° 55" 56.6729 E (09° 29° 37.5914" N License 11 CodeNo | Moisture Volatile | Fixed Ash % | Calorific Sulfur % % Matter % | Carbon % Value Cal/gm 1/207 23.65 37.71 36.58 | 5628.51 0.61 2 | 2.01 23.76 33.93 40.30 | 5144.31 0.80 3 | 2.08 23.72 35.37 38.83 | 5240.32 0.07 No _|Easting(Degree) Northing(Degree) 35° 55” 05.05" E 09° 30° 27.547 N 35°35 20.15°E 09°30" 21.257 N 35° 55° 11.26" E 09° 30° 33.767 N 35° 55° 23.60" Bele f= 09° 30° 26.007 NLicense 12 CodeNo [Moisture | Volatile | Fixed Ash% | Calorific Sulfur % % Matter % | Carbon % Value Cal/gm 1/115 23.38 36.39 39.08 | 5379.94 0.63 2 [1.07 23.08 29.55 46.29 | 4596.71 0.30 No __|Easting(Degree) Northing(Degree) 1 35° 56° 03.20" 09° 29° 08.94 2 35°36" 11.50°E 09° 29° 08.60" N 3 35°36" 13.26°E 09° 29° 22.50" N 4 [35°56 05.52"E 09° 29° 21.50" N License 13 CodeNo |Moisture | Volatile | Fixed ‘Ash % | Calorific Sulfur % % Matter % | Carbon % Value Cal/gm Sample-1_ [1.1 22.69 43.51 32.70 | 5487.7 031 Sample-2 | 2.46 24.46 47.19 25.89 | 5570.43 0.23 No Fasting(Degres) _ Northing(Degree) 1 35° 52° 57.10" E 09° 33° 59.907 N 3) 35° 53" 03.86°E 09°33" 58.357 N 3 35°53" 11.60°E 09" 34° 10.687 N 4 35°53’ 04.54°E 09° 34” 13.66" N License 14 CodeNo [Moisture | Volatile | Fixed Ash% | Calorific Sulfur % % Matter % | Carbon % Value Cal/gm 3.45 26.31 42.01 28.23 | 6113.05 0.33 2.77 20.33 28.16 48.75 | 3966.67 0.19 DS.7.G-03 [3.50 23.78 34.93 37.79 | 5106.33 1.53[No [Easting ~~—~‘| Northing 1 35° 54° 25.63" 09° 32” 23.78" 2 35°54°31.61" 09° 32” 22.13” 3 35°54" 42.08" 09° 32° 36.42" 4 35° 54° 29.49" 09° 32” 32.64" Note:- 1, General Average coal thickness of the area is 3-6m 2. The quality of the Coal is within standard. Recommended steps to license new area for coal Coal availability, recoverability, and economic evaluation of coal resources involves the Collection and collation of coal-bed information and, ultimately, the determination of the total coal resources and reserves of major coal beds. Required information includes the = location; lithologic description; "thickness of coal beds, * overburden, " interbred, and parting; = quality of coal beds; * chemical analysis of overburden, * interburden; = rock-mechanics characteristics and structural geologic data; = the locations of active and abandoned mines; * social and industrial constraints (towns, highways, power lines, gas and oil wells and pipelines, and railroads); and * environmental restrictions, such as endangered animal and plant species habitat or elk and deer winter range, rivers, alluvial valley floors, wetlands; and, * finally, surface and subsurface land ownership. 70 % share is to the investor and 30% to local residents and landowners.