Coal gasification is a versatile and clean method of converting coal into hydrogen and other valuable products as well as electricity, it said in its Non-fuel uses of coal report.

Typically in modern gasifiers, coal is exposed to steam and carefully controlled amounts of air or oxygen under high temperatures and pressures.

The molecules in coal break apart, initiating chemical reactions that produce synthesis gas, hydrogen, carbon monoxide and other gaseous compounds.

The products from coal gasification may be of low, medium or high-heat (British thermal unit) content depending on the process as well as the ultimate use of the gas, according to the report.

In 2012, the majority of syngas used worldwide was for the production of chemicals, liquid fuels and power generation.

The majority of planned gasifiers (40%) are for chemical production and liquid/motor fuels (29%), power generation (22%) and gaseous fuels (9%).

The feedstock for gasification is derived as follows: coal – 63%, petroleum – 15%, gas – 13%, petcoke – 9% and biomass/waste –

Of the total syngas produced from coal, 49% is used for Fischer-Tropsch liquids, 32% for chemicals, 11% for power generation and 8% for gaseous fuels.

“Concerns over supply security and the price of oil have led to a renewed interest in coal for the production of transport fuels and chemicals,” the report states.

“Historically, the coal-to-liquids process has been used to convert coal into a substitute for liquid fuels in countries with little or no secure supply of petroleum, such as South Africa.

“A number of products can be developed using CTL processes – ultra-clean petroleum and diesel, as well as synthetic waxes, lubricants, chemical feedstocks and alternative liquid fuels such as methanol and dimethyl ether.”