Enhancement of coal production and environmental sustainability: Issues and Challenges Dr. Manoranjan Hota hota_m@yahoo.com

Coal is an essential resource and plays a major role in producing electricity across the globe. Coal is estimated at > 861 billion ton globally. India has the fifth largest coal reserves in the world. While India accounts for about 286 billion tonnes of coal resources, other countries USA, China, Australia, Indonesia, South Africa and Mozambique also share major share of coal resource. Coal meets approximately30.3% of the global primary energy needs and generates 42% of the world’s electricity.

Of the total reserves, nearly 88% are on-coking coal reserves, while tertiary coals reserves account for a meagre 0.5 % and the balance is coking coal. The short-term increase in coal production may negatively impact the long-term growth due to finite nature of the coal resource and depletion impact on environment. Therefore, there is a need to adopt and practice sustainable mining.

The power generation from various sources indicates that coal is the major source are: (i) Thermal power: 68.19% (Coal: 58%; Gas: 8.9%; Oil: 0.52%); (ii) Hydro Power: 18%; (iii) Nuclear power: 2 %; (iv) Wind power: 12.32%

Top Ten Hard Coal Producers (2010e) PR China: 3162Mt Russia: 248Mt USA : 932Mt Indonesia: 173Mt India : 538Mt Kazakhstan: 105Mt Australia: 353Mt Poland: 77Mt South Africa: 255Mt Colombia: 74Mt Source: IEA 2011

Coal in electricity generation South Africa: 93% Israel: 63% Poland : 92% Czech Rep: 60% China: 79% Morocco : 55% Australia: 77% Greece: 52% Kazakhstan: 70% USA: 49% India: 69% Germany : 46% Source: IEA 2010 Coal plays a vital role in electricity generation worldwide. Coal-fired power plants currently fuel 41% of global electricity. In some countries, coal fuels an even higher percentage of electricity.

Coal Inventory: Total of 3, 01,564.45 Million Tonnes of geological resources of coal have so far been estimated in India, upto the maximum depth of 1200 metre. Out of the total resources, the Gondwana coalfields account for 300,071.81 Mt (99.5%), Tertiary coalfields of Himalayan region contribute 1493.64 Mt (0.5%) of coal resources.

Coal Reserve & Exploration Needs Current inventory of Indian coal reserves strong at 248 Bt., including only 93 Bt in Proved category, The total potential coal-bearing area of the country is about 22,400 sq.km.; out of which 10,200 sq.km. (45%) has been covered by regional exploration as on 1.1.2002.

Exploration Needs As of now 10,200 sq. km. coal bearing areas have been regionally explored by GSI and others. Another 12,200 sq. km. is yet to be regionally explored. There is urgent need to accelerate the pace of exploration. India is maintaining balance between its resource base and share in production contribution. Currently India's per capita proved coal reserve is 79 tonnes as compared to world average of 154 tonnes.

Out of this inventory, about 50% area covered by Detailed Exploration. Out of the total Inventory of 248 Bt, 71 Bt are in proved category within 300m depth.  The rest 81.5 Bt are in Indicated and Inferred categories. Additionally 56.7 Bt resources are available in Indicated and Inferred categories (excluding Jharia CF) within 300-600m depth.

Domestic Coal Demand It has been envisaged by some studies that there are a projection of demand of coal would rise to a level of about 990 Mitas by the  2020-21 from the current level of about 360 Mtes.

Strategy to fulfil Coal Demand Considering available geological reserves vis-a-vis technical feasibility of excavation / extraction based on current applicability of available global technology in Indian geo-mining conditions, and sustainability of mining operations over a reasonable period need to be planned for operation.

Quality of Indian Coal Indian coal has high ash content. The average ash content in Indian coal is 35-38 per cent while imported coal ash content 10-15%. Indian coal is characterized by: (i) Lower to medium grade coal; (ii) high ash content; (iii) low moisture content; and (iv) low Sulphur content.

Mining technology Avenues of harnessing alternatives such as CBM and in-situ gasification of coal from the inaccessible deposits also need to be explored.   India has been practicing mining by opencast mining (87%) and underground mining (23%).

Plausible Challenges With coal resource getting more and more limited, focus of mining requires moving to higher depths, larger systems and processes to be adopted which are more efficient than traditional truck and haul.

In-Pit Crushing And Conveying (IPCC) technology has established a position at the forefront of mining technologies. This technology, though being capital intensive, in comparison to conventional mining provides efficient mining for large scale mining operations at greater depths thus optimally extracting the critical coal reserves.

The other plausible challenges shifting of mining from one mine to other by abandoning excavated coal mines without proper reclamation; improper implementation of mine closure plans ; practice of horizontal mining thereby destroying forest and wild life; possibility of extending vertical mining beyond 300 meter depth; availability of advanced technology; change in mind set; etc.

Environmental Concerns Environment Clearances is required for any developmental projects under the EIA Notification, 2006. MoEFCC has been granting EC to the coal mining. The coal mining should, as per the EIA Notification, 2006 and should comply with all the stipulated conditions, which is a legal requirement. EIA Notification, 2006.

Sustainable mining vis-à-vis environmental protection: Self-regulation should be put in practice Board of the Company should own responsibility for any non-compliance. Need to amalgamate smaller mines into bigger units with fewer openings. Small scale mining should be avoided so that improved heavy machinery can be put to use for enhance coal production so also pollution and other environmental issues are kept to minimum. E.g., use of In-Pit Crushing and Conveyor (IPCC) which will reduce no of small dumpers, its transportation, emission of pollutants etc.

Coal mining in India has been carried out to an average 100 meters depth except in Jharia Coal field where the mining is beyond this depth. Keeping in view the pristine forest and principles of sustainable development in view, it would be prudent go for mining vertically down (may be upto 800 meters) rather than horizontally. Vertical mining shall delay in forest diversion and will help in climate change mitigation.

Cluster approach for mining so as to minimize small scale mining. Cumulative Impact Assessment for cluster be carried out for environmental management and mitigation. Sequential mining need to be put in practice so that coal from a coal field is exhausted completely and the Over Burden (OB) and voids are rehandled completely and the land is returned back to its near original status for agriculture purposes.

Large numbers of voids which are created due to mining are left out without following any scientifically mine closure plan. The mine voids should be used recharging of ground water and also for supply of treated water to villagers. Adequate green belts should be provided for air pollution control.

Rain water harvesting and water conservation should be a part of the environmental management of the project. Transformation from conventional coal transportation by road to conveyor belt and rail transportation. Washeries need to be installed at the pit head so as to prevent long transportation and disposal of rejects.

Is coal sustainable Energy Sources?? Unlike sustainable energy sources, petroleum, coal and natural gas are exhaustible. There is a limited amount of fossil fuel energy sources in the world. Replacing exhaustible sources of energy with renewable sources is a question of when, not if.

Access to energy is essential to addressing the problems that cause poverty. After food and shelter, energy is one of the fundamentals of modern society. Without energy, people cannot access the opportunities provided by the modern world. A life lived without energy, is a life lived in poverty

Coal is the most widely available fossil fuel resource Coal is the most widely available fossil fuel resource. It forms the backbone of the world’s electricity supply, providing more than 40% of our electricity needs. It is also a key component in the production of steel and concrete; vital materials in building sustainable societies. Energy is critical to sustainable development - to building stronger communities with hospitals and schools. It supports business and industry so that they can deliver sustainable employment and economic growth.

Energy and climate change In the face of global action to address climate change, it has been argued that the expansion of energy access could threaten international climate ambitions which aim to cap atmospheric CO2 at 450 parts per million and keep global warming less than two degrees above pre-industrial levels. Developing countries have been concerned that requiring them to reduce emissions will threaten achievement of their legitimate development priorities. However, an effective and sustainable climate response must integrate environmental aims with energy security and economic development.

The world’s least developed countries need access to low cost energy, but they are also the most vulnerable to the impacts of policies aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions. As demand for energy increases, affordable and sustainable sources of energy are essential to addressing the challenge of reducing greenhouse gas emissions whilst achieving access to energy.

While addressing climate and energy challenges together seems contradictory to some, the reality is that they must be considered as integrated priorities. Importantly, energy needs can be met without impacting climate ambitions.

Efficiency improvements include the most cost effective and shortest lead time actions for reducing emissions from coal-fired electricity. This is particularly the case in developing countries and economies in transition where existing plant efficiencies are generally lower and coal use in electricity generation is increasing

Technology and sustainability: Clean fuels from coal Carbon capture and storage Carbon capture and storage technology will be a key technology to reduce CO2 emissions, not only from coal, but also natural gas and industrial sources. Like all new low emission energy technologies, CCS will cost significantly more than conventional technology and requires.

Another technology of growing importance in securing national energy supplies is carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS). It provides a pathway to two important energy goals of many countries – producing reliable and affordable electricity from coal power plants while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and producing more oil to meet growing demand and enhance national security.

Coal to liquids Converting coal to a liquid fuel – a process referred to as coal liquefaction – allows coal to be utilised as an alternative to oil. CTL is particularly suited to countries that rely heavily on oil imports and have large domestic reserves of coal.

Underground coal gasification Underground coal gasification (UCG) is a method of converting unworked coal - coal still in the ground - into a combustible gas which can be used for industrial heating, power generation or the manufacture of hydrogen, synthetic natural gas or diesel fuel.

CBM FROM VIRGIN COAL SEAMS Estimates of India’s CBM potential vary. The Directorate General of Hydrocarbons estimates that deposits in 44 major coal and lignite fields in 12 states of India, covering an area of 35,330 km2, contain 3.4 trillion cubic meters (m3) of CBM depending on the rank of the coal, depth of burial, and geotectonic settings of the basins as estimated by CMPDI. In the Jharia Coalfield, the gas content is estimated to be between 7.3 and 23.8 m3 per tonne of coal within the depth range of 150 to 1200 m. Analysis indicates every 100-m increase in depth is generally associated with a 1.3 m3 increase of methane content (M2M Profile – India, 2005). In 1997, the government formed a CBM policy that established the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas as the CBM administrative agency and offered several incentives.

A priority for all coal mining companies should be to protect the local environment and community around their mines. The soil is key, as within it is held the local biodiversity of the land alongside natural resources such as water and air. Through careful planning and land management, before and after mining takes place, the industry can help ensure a sustainable and responsible future for mining.

Delivering sustainable development is a significant global challenge Delivering sustainable development is a significant global challenge. There is a multiplicity of issues, which must be addressed as integrated challenges, not as isolated problems. All energy sources and all energy technologies will be needed to meet the global challenge of providing energy access for all. Renewable energies, gas, nuclear, coal and cleaner coal technologies all have a role to play in meeting global energy needs. There are a range of modern coal technologies that will support the deployment of energy while also supporting climate and greenhouse gas mitigation objectives

Conclusion Require introspecting and need to start assessing our potential and compare practices in the country vis-a-vis the other parts of the world which are more advanced in the sector. Responsible mining

THANK YOU