石炭保安技術に関する海外共同研究プロジェクト

Abstract

At present, coal accounts for nearly 25 percent of the world's primary energy supplies. Coal demand is expected to continue increasing in the world, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region, where dynamic economic growth is progressing. At coal mines in those coal-producing countries, mining sites are being shifted from open-pit mining to underground mining to meet increasing coal demand. Moreover, underground working places are becoming deeper. Therefore, securing safety at coal mines is an important task that must be tackled by these coal-producing countries.On the other hand, Japan relies on overseas suppliers for 97 percent of its coal requirements. In addition, Japan is the world's largest coal importer. As such, the Japanese energy policy assigns top priority to securing a stable supply of foreign coal. In these circumstances, Japan is urged to answer a growing need from foreign coal producing countries for the coal mine safety technologies that had been developed and accumulated under the Japanese difficult mining condition. Considering that joint project is an important responsibility that Japan must perform in the international community, the Japanese government will continue to lay emphasis on coal mine safety projects.Japan Coal Energy Center (JCOAL) has commenced information exchange program in 1982 based on the agreement between Australian and Japanese government. JCOAL and CSIRO had joint R & D projects on coal mine safety since 1993. The performance of gas drainage has been improved at the model mine as a typical result of the project. JCOAL also conducted cooperation projects on prevention technology of gas outburst and spontaneous combustion since 1992 with China. Occurrence of spontaneous combustion has been reduced dramatically at Chinese model mine by the end of the project. JCOAL had one joint R & D project on mine monitoring system in Indonesia.Japanese government have a plan to continue and expand joint R & D projects on coal mine safety with coal producing countries in Asia Pacific region, and to set up the ICCR international R & D cooperation.