Coal Mining

Background

Throughout the world there is an increasing demand for energy, along with increasing costs for petroleum products. Moreover, new uses for coal are becoming economically viable.  Coal is one of the most important energy sources, but in most developing countries with coal mining industries, coal mining is a risky business. Mining costs and mine safety and are the two major industry concerns.  Fortunately, over the past several decades in the United States, the productivity of mines and workers has improved dramatically and coal mining has become much safer. 

Objective

The objective of this program is to help senior government and mining industry officials improve productivity and safety in the coal mining industry. These improvements stimulate the economy and lead to better quality of life. This fills both economic and humanitarian needs.  By seeing themselves new procedures and methods, participants will be in a position to undertake significant industry-wide changes at home. 

How can this program help the coal mining industry?

  • Introduce mining methods, equipment, training programs, and legislation that can lead to improved mine productivity.

  • Introduce mining procedures that can improve working conditions in the mines and reduce accidents.

  • Show ways to improve mine output at reduced cost.

  • Reduce injury and loss of life.

  • Introduce advanced safety features and techniques and equipment that have been successful

  • Present ideas for new legislation and regulation

  • Present ideas for new uses for coal and its byproducts

  • Introduce new products and services that can open opportunities at home. For example, coal byproducts, such as fly ash, to increase the strength of concrete

What will mission participants see?

This economic development mission will have appointments throughout the mining districts of the Appalachian region of the eastern U.S. They will visit:

  • Underground mines

  • Open strip mines

  • Industry safety training programs

  • Trade associations

  • Labor union offices

  • Government mining offices

  • Mining equipment manufacturers

  • Services and equipment suppliers

  • They will meet daily to exchange ideas and proposals

Topics to be covered include

  • Techniques for improving productivity and reducing costs

  • Safety precautions

  • Employee training

  • Coal gasification

  • Marketing techniques that can expand uses for coal and its byproducts

  • Methods of transporting coal

  • Techniques for grading and cleaning coal

  • Relations with labor unions

  • Training current mine workers and retraining those who lose their jobs due to mine closures

  • How trade associations can help the industry

  • Discussions with U.S. officials about legislation and regulation

Outcome

It has been CEI’s experience that its training mission program is the best way to have a rapid and comprehensive impact on a developing nation.  Seeing solutions in practice is significantly superior to “consultants” who come to the country to lecture.  If people are to learn and understand an industry such as coal mining operations, it is necessary for them to see for themselves practices that really work. They then return home equipped to make improvements and to share their learnings with others who can also help make industry-wide improvements. This usually leads to economic benefits within the industry and also in its communities and affiliated industries