Post by Trade facilitator on Sept 17, 2017 0:44:48 GMT 1
The use of coal to generate electricity is not new in Nigeria. Many years back, it was the sole source of energy supply, particularly in the Eastern and Middle-Belt parts of the country. Both marine and locomotive engines used by the ships and rail trains were equally dependent on coal.
Coal is a hard black material that is found below the ground and when properly burnt, it produces energy. Coal can also be used as fuel when it is properly fired to a point of crescendo. You also have coal-gas which is a mixture of gases produced from coal, that can safely be used for electricity and heating. It was discovered that Nigeria’s coal is the best and most naturally refined in the world and when in use, countries like Britain, China, Canada, South Africa, India and others which still use coal for power generation may have the need to import our coal. At present, China which is the largest consumer of coal does not have enough.
A specialist on the history of Enugu and coalfields Mr. Nnadozie Eze said ‘’when the colonial masters were here coal was not only equitably distributed in Nigeria for power generation, they also began to export it to Britain as from 1917. Now, same coal is being neglected because of the discovery of oil and gas. But we have plenty of coal deposits which we can tap along with oil, gas and other resources to give this nation a huge leap in terms of industrialization. I know that with coal, the issue of power failure may not always occur.’
An engineer and manager at the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) admitted that although their main brief is to distribute electricity to consumers, they are not totally divorced from power generation. ‘’To me, coal is very vital and necessary for a stable power supply in the whole area that we cover,’’ he said. The company’s responsibility is to supply power to the five states of the South East.
Coal was first discovered in Enugu, Nigeria, in 1909 by a team of British geological explorers. The team, led by one Albert Ernest Kitson, later died in 1915, formally commenced the mining and exploration of coal. On November 6, 1916, the British colonial government set in motion the first rail train that travelled from port - Harcourt to Enugu. Thus, began the history of the coal city. Aside the economic potentials and importance of Enugu as a result of the discovery of coal in almost all the surrounding hills and highlands, the colonial administrators began in earnest to erect settlements for the coal miners. It was also within this period that the largest settlements in Enugu known as the Coal Camp emerged. With the largest expanse of land mainly located around the foot of the mountains, many coal workers, especially those who came from distance places, began to behold and build their own houses and consequently developed the whole vicinity to their taste.
Mining Sites of Nigeria Coal Corporation
Okpara Coalfield (Enugu), Amansiodo Coalfield (Enugu, Ezimo Coalfield (Enugu), Inyi Coalfield (Enugu), Obwetti Coalfield (Enugu), Obgete Coalfield (Enugu), Onyeama Coalfield (Enugu), Ogboyega 1 Coalfied (Kogi), Ogboyega 11 Coalfield (Kogi), Okaba Coalfield (Kogi), Ogwashi Azagba Coalfield (Delta), Owukpa Mine (Benue) and Ribadu Mine (Benue) – Dons Eze.
Coal is a hard black material that is found below the ground and when properly burnt, it produces energy. Coal can also be used as fuel when it is properly fired to a point of crescendo. You also have coal-gas which is a mixture of gases produced from coal, that can safely be used for electricity and heating. It was discovered that Nigeria’s coal is the best and most naturally refined in the world and when in use, countries like Britain, China, Canada, South Africa, India and others which still use coal for power generation may have the need to import our coal. At present, China which is the largest consumer of coal does not have enough.
A specialist on the history of Enugu and coalfields Mr. Nnadozie Eze said ‘’when the colonial masters were here coal was not only equitably distributed in Nigeria for power generation, they also began to export it to Britain as from 1917. Now, same coal is being neglected because of the discovery of oil and gas. But we have plenty of coal deposits which we can tap along with oil, gas and other resources to give this nation a huge leap in terms of industrialization. I know that with coal, the issue of power failure may not always occur.’
An engineer and manager at the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) admitted that although their main brief is to distribute electricity to consumers, they are not totally divorced from power generation. ‘’To me, coal is very vital and necessary for a stable power supply in the whole area that we cover,’’ he said. The company’s responsibility is to supply power to the five states of the South East.
Coal was first discovered in Enugu, Nigeria, in 1909 by a team of British geological explorers. The team, led by one Albert Ernest Kitson, later died in 1915, formally commenced the mining and exploration of coal. On November 6, 1916, the British colonial government set in motion the first rail train that travelled from port - Harcourt to Enugu. Thus, began the history of the coal city. Aside the economic potentials and importance of Enugu as a result of the discovery of coal in almost all the surrounding hills and highlands, the colonial administrators began in earnest to erect settlements for the coal miners. It was also within this period that the largest settlements in Enugu known as the Coal Camp emerged. With the largest expanse of land mainly located around the foot of the mountains, many coal workers, especially those who came from distance places, began to behold and build their own houses and consequently developed the whole vicinity to their taste.
Mining Sites of Nigeria Coal Corporation
Okpara Coalfield (Enugu), Amansiodo Coalfield (Enugu, Ezimo Coalfield (Enugu), Inyi Coalfield (Enugu), Obwetti Coalfield (Enugu), Obgete Coalfield (Enugu), Onyeama Coalfield (Enugu), Ogboyega 1 Coalfied (Kogi), Ogboyega 11 Coalfield (Kogi), Okaba Coalfield (Kogi), Ogwashi Azagba Coalfield (Delta), Owukpa Mine (Benue) and Ribadu Mine (Benue) – Dons Eze.
