COAL SUB-SECTOR
MINISTRY OF MINES...
Ministry of Mines is responsible
for Formulation of Mining Policy, Exploration and
Extraction of Minerals and Gems.
Department of Mines is responsible
for Mining Policy Formulation, Granting of Mineral
Permits and Coordination of Mining Sector.
Mining Enterprise No. 3 is responsible
for production of Coal.
Department of Geological Surveys
and Mineral Exploration is responsible for exploration
of Coal Deposits.
Potential
Myanmar is known to have numerous coal occurrences
within the country. The existence of these are along
the Ayeyarwady and Chidwin River Basins as well
as in the southern part of the country. Myanmar
has a total of 16 major coal deposits throughout
the country.
Location of Major Coal Deposits
of Myanmar
|
Sr. No. |
Location
States / Divisions |
Possible |
Probable |
Potential |
Proven |
Total |
Rank of Coal |
|
1. |
Dathwegyauk / SAGAING |
33.410 |
- |
0.500 |
- |
33.910 |
Sub-Bituminous |
|
2. |
Paluzawa-Chaungzone/ SAGAING |
- |
- |
89.000 |
- |
89.000 |
Sub-Bituminous |
|
3. |
Kalewa / SAGAING |
65.390 |
17.770 |
- |
4.620 |
87.780 |
Sub-Bituminous |
|
4. |
Mahudaung / SAGAING |
0.360 |
- |
- |
0.440 |
0.800 |
Lignite |
|
5. |
Kyobin / SAGAING |
- |
0.030 |
- |
- |
0.030 |
Sub-Bituminous |
|
6. |
Thinbaung / SAGAING |
- |
0.080 |
- |
- |
0.080 |
Lignite |
|
7. |
Kyauktaga / MAGWAY |
0.540 |
- |
- |
- |
0.540 |
Su-Bituminous |
|
8. |
Myeni / MAGWAY |
0.250 |
- |
- |
- |
0.250 |
Sub-Bituminous |
|
9. |
Lweje / KACHIN |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Apparently Large Deposit |
|
10. |
Namma
/ SHAN |
- |
2.800 |
- |
- |
2.800 |
Lignite |
|
11. |
Samlaung / SHAN |
1.600 |
- |
- |
- |
1.600 |
Lignite |
|
12. |
Inbyin / SHAN |
0.220 |
- |
- |
- |
0.220 |
Sub-Bituminous |
|
13. |
Tigyit / SHAN |
20.200 |
- |
- |
- |
20.200 |
|
|
14. |
Theindaw-Kawmabyin / TANINTHAYI |
2.000 |
- |
- |
- |
2.000 |
Sub-Bituminous |
|
15. |
Modaung Pass / TANINTHAYI |
3.600 |
- |
- |
- |
3.600 |
Sub-Bituminous |
|
16. |
Kjethimansan / SHAN |
15.300 |
- |
- |
- |
15.300 |
Sub-Bituminous |
|
|
T O T A L |
142.87 |
20.680 |
89.940 |
4.620 |
258.110 |
|
The production and consumption
of coal had never been significant in the past due
to constraints of remoteness of coal reserves, lack
of sufficient investment for exploitation and most
significantly due to prevailing option on coal as
" dirty fuel ".
Current Status of Exploitation
Out of 16 major coal deposits,
Kalewa and Namma Coal Mines are the only producing
areas on a commercial scale. The estimated ore reserves
and assy analysis of coal types of Kalewa and Namma
Coal Mines are as follows:-
(a) Ore Reserves
| Kalewa Coal |
87.78 million ton (Sub-Bituminous)
|
| Namma Coal |
2.80 million ton (Lignite) |
(b) Assy Analysis
|
|
Kalewa
Coal |
Namma
Coal |
| Ash (Dry Basis) |
8.87 % |
11.68 % |
| Volatile Matter
(Dry Basis) |
38.67 % |
52.44 % |
| Fixed Carbon
(Dry Basis) |
52.50 % |
35.37 % |
| Sulphur |
0.93 % |
1.20 % |
| Moisture |
9.70 % |
15.28 % |
| Specific Gravity |
1.35 % |
1.30 % |
| Calorific Value |
11720 Btu / lb |
9360 Btu / lb |
Kalewa and Namma Coal Mines and
a producing large scale private owned coal field
at Samlaung has been catering for the needs of the
steel industry and private owned cement plants.
Total annual coal production
for 1999 - 2000 was 106,423 tons compared to 56,000
tons during previous financial year. It is expected
to increase coal production to 150,000 tons in the
year 2000 - 2001 and eventually to increase up to
approximately 400,000 tons after development of
Kalewa Coal Mine.
Exploration undertaken during
1999 till end of February 2000 indicated the proven
reserve as approximately 15 million ton, opening
up opportunities for determination of size of annual
production in accordance with the scale of investment.
Feasibility Study on Industrial
Complex of Power and Cement Plant based on Kalewa
Coal Mine was recently undertaken by an organization
from Japan, which proved the economic viability
of Kalewa Development Project.
Foundation of coal fired power
plant was recently laid at Tachileik in Triangle
Area of northeastern Myanmar to provide for the
power needs of in the region.
Scattered location of small to
medium sized coal occurrence in various parts of
the country also encouraged local coal mining companies
to establish briquette factories leading to increased
production of coal briquettes to substitute biomass
fuel.
Private sector participation
in coal exploration and exploitation has also been
encouraged to promote coal production to fulfill
the needs of local industries.
Future Plan
Plans are underway to increase
the the production of Kalewa Coal Mine from its
present production level of 15,000 ton per year
to 300,000 ton per year if the construction of a
66 MW Power Plant and a 500,000 ton per year Cement
Plant were realized according to Kalewa Development
Project. If the Project is implemented, generation
of electricity of 60 MW will be implemented during
Phase I and 120 MW during Phase II.
Myanmar has recently become a
member of ASEAN Forum on Coal, which would open
up opportunities for investment in the Coal Sector
and also promote rural electrification by application
of Coal Technology for power generation at feasible
locations.
In future, more coal is expected
to be used by both power generation and non-power
sectors. Therefore, it is required to have more
extensive exploration effort to identify proven
coal reserves, to have foreign direct investments
and technologies to utilize coal in power generation
as well as in industries, to have private sector
participation in exploration and exploitation of
coal reserves, to introduce Clean Coal Technology
to protect environment and to have appropriate pricing
system to compete with other sources of energy.
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