The coal industry is the largest segment of the fuel industry. Throughout the world, it surpasses any other in terms of the number of workers and the number of equipment.
What is the coal industry
Coal mining involves the extraction of coal and its subsequent processing. Work is being done both on the surface and underground.
If the deposits are located at a depth of not more than 100 meters, work is carried out in a quarry way. Mines are used to develop deposits at great depths.
Classic coal mining methods
Work in coal mines and underground - the main ways of mining. Most of the work in Russia and in the world is conducted in an open way. This is due to financial gain and high production rates.
The process is as follows:
- Using special equipment, the upper layer of the earth covering the field is removed. A few years ago, the depth of open work was limited to 30 meters, the latest technology allowed to increase it by 3 times. If the top layer is soft and small, it is removed using an excavator. A thick and dense layer of earth is previously crushed.
- Coal deposits are recaptured and taken away with the help of special equipment to the enterprise for further processing.
- Workers restore natural relief to avoid harm to the environment.
The disadvantage of this method is that coal deposits located at a shallow depth contain impurities of dirt and other rocks.
Coal mined underground is considered to be cleaner and better.
The main objective of this method is the transportation of coal from great depths to the surface. To do this, passages are created: adit (horizontal) and shaft (inclined or vertical).
Coal seams are chopped in special tunnels in tunnels and loaded onto a conveyor that lifts them to the surface.
The underground method allows you to extract a large amount of fossil, but it has significant disadvantages: high cost and increased danger to workers.
Unconventional methods of coal mining
These methods are effective, but do not have mass distribution - at the moment there are no technologies that can clearly establish the process:
- Hydraulic. Extraction is conducted in a mine at great depths. The coal seam crumbles and is delivered to the surface under strong water pressure.
- The energy of compressed air. It acts both destructive and lifting force, compressed air is under strong pressure.
- Vibration impulse. The layers are destroyed under the influence of powerful vibrations formed by the equipment.
These methods were used in the Soviet Union, but did not become popular due to the need for large financial investments. Only a few coal mining companies continue to use unconventional methods.
Their main advantage is the lack of workers in potentially life-threatening areas.
Leading Coal Mining Countries
According to statistics from the world energy sector, a ranking of countries with leading coal mining in the world has been compiled:
- PRC.
- USA.
- India.
- Australia.
- Indonesia.
- Russia.
- SOUTH AFRICA.
- Germany.
- Poland.
- Kazakhstan.
For many years, China has been a leader in terms of coal production. In China only 1/7 of the existing deposits are being developed, this is due to the fact that coal is not exported outside the country, and the available reserves will last at least 70 years.
In the United States, deposits are evenly scattered across the country. They will provide the country with their reserves for at least 300 years.
Coal deposits in India are very rich, but almost all of the mined is used in the energy industry, since the available reserves are of very low quality. Despite the fact that India occupies one of the leading positions, artisanal methods of coal mining are progressing in this country.
Coal reserves in Australia are enough for about 240 years. Mined coal has the highest quality rating, a significant part of it is intended for export.
In Indonesia, coal production is growing every year. A few years ago, most of the mined was exported to other countries, now the country is gradually abandoning the use of oil, and therefore the demand for coal for domestic consumption is growing.
Russia has 1/3 of the world's coal reserves, while not all the country's lands have been explored.
South Africa has every chance of rising higher in the ranking - over the past 30 years, the level of coal production in this country has grown 4 times.
Germany, Poland and Kazakhstan are gradually reducing coal production due to the uncompetitive cost of raw materials. Most coal is for domestic consumption.
The main places of coal mining in Russia
Let's get it right. Coal mining in Russia is carried out mainly by open pit mining. Deposits throughout the country are scattered unevenly - most of them are located in the eastern region.
The most significant coal deposits in Russia are:
- Kuznetsk (Kuzbass). It is considered the largest not only in Russia, but throughout the world, located in Western Siberia. Coking and coal are mined here.
- Kansk-Achinsk. Brown coal is mined here. The field is located along the Trans-Siberian Railway, occupying part of the territories of the Irkutsk and Kemerovo regions, and the Krasnoyarsk Territory.
- Tunguska coal basin. It is represented by brown and stone types of coal. It covers part of the territory of the Republic of Sakha, the Irkutsk region and the Krasnoyarsk Territory.
- Pechora coal basin. At this field coking coal is mined. Work is underway in the mines, which makes it possible to produce high-quality coal. Located in the Republic of Komi and the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug.
- Irkutsk-Cheremkhovsky coal basin. Located in the Upper Sayan. It provides coal only to nearby enterprises and settlements.
Today, 5 more deposits are being developed that can increase the annual coal production in Russia by 70 million tons.
Coal Mining Prospects
Most of the coal deposits have already been explored in the world, from an economic point of view, the most promising belong to 70 countries. The level of coal production is growing rapidly: technology is being improved, equipment is being modernized. Due to this, the profitability of the industry increases.