How Coal is extracted?

Depending on the depth of the layers, or seams, coal is extracted in open pit or underground mines. In the underground extraction, the vertical wells are drilled and a system of elevators and connections to the surface are installed. The well is then drilled horizontally to follow each coal layer as far as possible.

An open pit mine is a huge hole that looks a bit like a sports stadium, with terraces along which earth-moving vehicles drill into seams. First of all, the layer of earth above the first coal seam has to be removed – this can be up to 200m down. All the earth around the base of the seam is removed and then the coal starts to be extracted. When the hole is large enough, the miners dig down to the next coal layer. The coal is extracted as before while extraction of the first layer continues and so on. Each coal layer is called an excavation. The mine starts to look like a gigantic amphitheatre, where the terraces are made up of coal layers being extracted.

Coal has many important uses worldwide. The most significant uses are in electricity generation, steel production, cement manufacturing and as a liquid fuel.

Since 2000, global coal consumption has grown faster than any other fuel. The five largest coal users – China, USA, India, Russia and Japan – account for 76% of total global coal use. Different types of coal have different uses. Steam coal – also known as thermal coal – is mainly used in power generation. Coking coal – also known as metallurgical coal – is mainly used in steel production.