1. Coal extraction

Mining a deposit involves freeing the coal from the other geological layers that trap it, and transporting it to the surface. Generally speaking, the coal layers, which vary in thickness from a few centimetres to several metres, lie beneath the earth at depths ranging from a few metres to 1,500 m, and sometimes more.

It is important to remember that coal mining is not about extracting any quantity or quality of fuel, but must take into account market requirements. The various national environmental agencies impose the lowest possible levels of pollutants, including: SO ₂ , NO _x , ash content, mercury and arsenic among other carcinogenic heavy metals.