Coal is considered the most widespread energy resource in the world. It became the first type of fossil fuel that humans began to use. Today in Russia there are several large mining and processing plants. The article will further describe the coal basins of Russia.
General information
Recently, oil and gas and coal basins of Russia have been actively developed . The Russian Federation has huge reserves of raw materials. However, climatic conditions are not always possible to conduct production in the required volume. Coal is presented in the form of petrified remains of freshwater plants of antiquity. This fossil fuel is of two types. The classification of coal is carried out in accordance with its calorific value. Anthracites have the highest, lignite the lowest. High-calorie coal is used in ferrous metallurgy, and low-calorie coal - in the energy sector.
Industry development
In the late 1980s, total energy consumption increased. The most intense pace was observed in the use of coal. So, from 1984 to 1994, it was 0.9%. In the last decade, the consumption of this fossil fuel has increased even more - up to 2.7%. According to forecasts, the world's coal reserves should be enough for 120 years. The share of the Russian Federation in the total industrial volume is 23%. Domestic mining and processing complexes today form a separate economic sector, a fully market segment. Almost all organizations and enterprises involved in this area have a private ownership category.
Fuel volumes in the Russian Federation
The main coal basins of Russia contain about 4 trillion tons of forecast reserves. They make up about 30% of the global volume. This is the highest rate among all countries of the planet. The coal basins of Russia contain huge mineral resources in their bowels. Thanks to this, the country occupies a leading position in the development and sale of fuel. Since 2009, a consistently high export volume has been established. According to the FCS, it amounts to at least 8.5–9 million tons. The total export volume of coal in 2009 was 103 million tons. Fuel is consumed in all regions of the country. Coal basins of Russia are located in 26 entities. Some of them have been developed since Soviet times. Next, a brief description of the coal basins of Russia will be given.
First deposits
Of particular importance in industry are the Kuznetsk and Pechora coal basins of Russia. The first was opened in 1721. However, its extensive development began in 1920. In 1934, the Pechora basin was opened. Kuznetsk deposit is located in the Western part of Siberia, in the Kemerovo region. The Pechora basin is located in the Republic of Komi and the Nenets Autonomous Okrug. The area of the first is 26, and the second is 90 thousand km 2 . These largest coal basins in Russia provide most of the country's industrial volume. Two more large deposits are being developed in the territory of the Russian Federation. The Kansko-Achinsky and South Yakutsky coal basins of Russia differ in different mining conditions. If the first field is located in a favorable area, then the second is in harsh climatic conditions, which significantly complicates the development. Nevertheless, the share that falls on these coal basins of Russia is quite high. The area of the open part of the Kansk-Achinsk deposit is 45 thousand km 2 , the total area of the South Yakutsk is 25 thousand km 2 . Coal basins of Russia are developed by a mine or open pit method. The choice depends on climatic conditions, remoteness from settlements with developed infrastructure. So, the Pechora basin is located beyond the Arctic Circle. Such remoteness, coupled with a harsh climate, has a significant impact on the cost of raw materials. The development of the South Yakutsk basin is also difficult.
Kuznetsk deposit
This pool stretches for 800 km along the Trans-Siberian Railway. This field is one of the leading fuel reserves in the world. Its share in Russian industry is about 60%. The field is located in favorable climatic and geological conditions. This, in turn, provides a fairly low cost of coal. Fossils of the Kuznetsk deposit are notable for low ash content (4.6%), high (8.6 kcal) calorific value, low phosphorus and sulfur content. Specific heat is 6-8.5 thousand kcal / kg. Significant coking coal reserves are concentrated in the basin . Their volume is about 643 billion tons. Development is carried out by mine and open pit methods.
Pechora basin
It distinguishes 9 industrial areas. The most studied and mastered are: Halmerunsky, Vorkutinsky, Worg-Shorsky and Intinsky. Potential coal reserves in the basin are about 213 billion tons, 8.7 billion are on the balance sheet. Extraction is carried out mainly by the closed method. This is due to adverse climatic conditions. However, the mine method provides high quality of extracted raw materials.
Kansk-Achinsk field
Its width ranges from 50 to 250 km. The pool is divided into two parts: western and eastern. The total geological reserve is in the range of 600 billion tons. About 140 billion are suitable for open pit mining. The coal-bearing stratum of the field is composed of sediments of the Jurassic period. The main industrial value has a powerful layer. It lies in the upper horizon. Coals mainly have a humus composition. The moisture content in lignites is 21-44%, sulfur - 0.2-0.8%. Fuel ash - 7-14%. The layers are located close to the surface, horizontally. Kansk-Achinskoye field is being developed by open pit mining. Favorable mining and geological conditions contribute to this, as well as the large thickness of the main stratum over a large area.
South Yakutsk field
It is located in the Aldan Highlands. Its length is about 750 km. In the composition of the basin, 5 coal-bearing areas are distinguished: Gonamsky, Usmunsky, Tokyo, Ytymdzhinsky, Aldano-Chulmansky. The total reserves are about 24.17 billion tons. Semi-brilliant and shiny coals lie here. The moisture content in them is 0.7-1.4%, sulfur - 0.3-0.4%. The fossil ash is in the range of 10-18%. The total forecast resources and reserve reserves, taking into account the Khabarovsk eastern part, amount to about 41.4 billion tons. The development of the basin is hampered not only by the harsh climate, but also by the lack of necessary transport links. In this regard, the cost of extracted raw materials is relatively high.
Finally
Coal basins of Russia are crucial for the economy of the country as a whole and the development of industry in particular. Among the main tasks of the government is the question of improving the logistics of hard-to-reach areas with large reserves of raw materials. Field development is of great practical importance. When creating the necessary conditions for the production, processing and transportation, specialists will be involved, more intensive development of remote areas will begin. A special place in the implementation of these tasks is financing. In particular, attracting foreign and domestic investors to the largest coal basins of Russia is considered to be a promising direction of the state. In this regard, the development of effective state programs is underway, the introduction of which will allow the country to maintain a leading position in the global coal industry.