Uncontrolled fires in coal seams underground present an ecological problem all over the world. Such smouldering fires pollute the ground, the groundwater and the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide emissions from these fires contribute to the greenhouse effect. Yet, aside from the environmental aspects, such fires destroy valuable energy resources and endanger people who live nearby. Uncontrolled fires are known of in many countries where coal mining is practised – in China, the USA and India, for instance.

To be able to extinguish fires in a planned and effective fashion, the extinguishing agent must be focussed on the base of the fire – the hot spot. Using modern exploration methods it is now possible to determine the exact position of the hot spot. Thus the extinguishing agent can be applied economically and the time for putting out the fire can be considerably reduced.

Since 2000 we have been continuously involved in technical cooperation projects and in research projects investigating the phenomenon of wild coal fires. In fact, the application of our investigation methods made it possible for a large fire in West China to be extinguished in timely fashion.

The Kyoto Protocol going into effect and the opportunities offered by the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) now make it possible for companies in industrial countries to acquire CO2 certificates on the basis of extinguishing coal fires in developing countries. The firms can then make use of these certificates in their home countries.

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Exploration of Coal Fires

Planning, Devising and Supervising