A Review of Geology and Coal Mining In South Eastern Nigeria: Implication for Sustainable National Development

Abstract

Coal is a combustible carbonaceous material which occurs within the Campanian – Maactrictian Mamu formation of the Anambra Basin, Nigeria. The estimated total reserve is about 2.7 billion tones with over 0.6 billion tones proven (Dixon and Leighton L. H. 1969) coal mining has been successfully carried out using conventional underground mining methods as well as long or all mining methods. Although, coal mining activity ceased in the Enugu for some times now,the current policy of the government to commercialize the coal mining industry is expected to bring a boom in the sector. This will no doubt increase Nigeria foreign direct investment (FDI). Apart from its industrial uses, coal is a good alternative to fuel wood as it can be processed into coal briquettes which can be adapted in the rural and urban areas for use in coking. This effort will not only diversify Nigerian monolithic economy but will lead to reduction in the unemployment rate and by implication reduction in youth restiveness.