Ragil Pratiwi*
ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION
Underground coal gasification (UCG) is a process in In Indonesia, coal is one of the most important fuels,
which coal is converted in situ to a combustible gas after diesel fuel. More than 40% of Indonesia's
that can be used as a fuel, chemical feedstock and electricity production uses coal, because coal is
syngas. UCG is a process used to produce gas, cheaper than the other fuels, like oil and natural gas.
primarily hydrogen, carbon monoxide, carbon According to Geological Survey Ministry of Energy
dioxide, and methane by partially combusting and Mineral Resources (ESDM), the amount
underground coal in the presence of water and a of Indonesias coal recources totals 65.4 billion tons
controlled oxygen supply (Walker, 1999). with reserves of 2.6 billion tons to 12 billion tons.
There are 21 basins in Indonesia which produce
According to Geological Survey Ministry of Energy coal, such as Central Sumatera Basin, Berau Basin,
and Mineral Resources (ESDM), Indonesias total Kutai Basin, etc. (Figure 1).
coal recources are estimated at 65.4 billion tons and
reserves of 2.6 to 12 billion tons. Presently, Based on BPs statistical review of world energy
Indonesia is most likely to burn coal for conversion 2011, Indonesian coal reserves reach 0.6% of world
to electricity. Because the burning of coal produces coal reserves (Table 1). Presently, Indonesia is more
pollutan gases such as CO2, SO2, NOx and CxHy, this likely to burn coal and convert it ito electricity.
use is inefficient. However, nearly 85% of known Because the burning coal producee pollutan gases,
coal reserves are deemed uneconomic for surface such as CO2, SO2, NOx and CxHy this process
mining because they are too remote, too deep, or is inefficient with lost high added value.
below caloric threshold. It is in these regions that
UCG has much to offer. However, nearly 85% of known coal reserves are
deemed uneconomic for surface mining techniques,
The process of coal gasification in a surface, because they are too remote, too deep, or
gasifier can be replicated underground by drilling uneconomic because of low quality. It is in these
into the coal seam, injecting air or oxygen, and regions that UCG has much to offer, because
gasifying the coal seam in situ. The produced gas is according to Geological Resources Centre, 2006,
transported to the surface (Walker, 1999). approximately 24.4% of Indonesian coal is low
caloric value and 61.4% is medium caloric value
UCG technology can recover up to 80% of the (Figure 2). Consequently, many are now turning to
calorific value of coal; a significant increase over UCG to fully utilise this valuable resource, which
other coal extraction methods. When combined with many experts believe could treble the availability of
CO2 storage in the depleted coal seams, coal suitable for UCG globally.
UCG creates a source of energy that rivals nuclear The UCG process is cleaner and more
reaction for low emissions and has lower unit costs environtmentally friendly than conventional coal
than conventional gas-fired power stations. utilization because the unwanted by-products such
as sulphur compounds and ash, can be removed
Keywords : underground coal gasification, syngas, from the gas. The clean gas product then can be
UCG processes, coal seam. streamed as an energy source.
d. Fourth phase: commercial phase - appropriating site selection, including depth and
strength of rock volume,
According to CCL, the commercial phase aims - spacing of UCG reactors to leave walls and
to steadily increase the output from initially two pillars between produced zones,
modules operating simultaneously to the - identifying and avoiding structural weaknesses,
maximum output, which may be 20 modules or such as pre-existing faults.
more. The syngas produced during the
commercial phase will be processed and used by Comparison of UCG to other Coal Technologies
variety of potential end uses, ranging from
combustion of the syngas for electricity a. Comparison to Surface Mining
generation to the production of very high quality
aviation fuels, and other products (Figure 5). Surface mining exploits shallower coal seams
tahap komersial bertujuan untuk terus usually less than 200 meters depth. To relatively
meningkatkan output dari semula dua modul high mining cost should be added the cost of
yang beroperasi secara bersamaan untuk output field discharge, transportation, pollutan cleanup,
maksimum, yang mungkin 20 modul atau lebih. ash capture and storage, etc.
Syngas yang dihasilkan selama fase komersial
akan diproses dan digunakan oleh berbagai b. Comparison to Underground Mining
potensi penggunaan akhir, mulai dari
pembakaran syngas untuk pembangkit listrik Underground mining is used when coal seams
untuk produksi bahan bakar penerbangan are deeper, usually greater than depth of 1000
kualitas yang sangat tinggi, dan produk lainnya meters. This mining isnt performed in coal
seams shallower than 50 meters in depth and
The Challenges of Environment and Its Solutions doesnt exploit coal seams over
The second aspect is economic. Based on UCG The author acknowledges all lecturers of Geological
Association, there are many economic advantages of Engineering Universitas Diponegoro, and her
UCG technology, e.g. capital and operating costs are advisor lecturer, Mr. Dian Agus, ST. MT for his
lower than in traditional mining, reduced cost of guidance during the writing of this paper. And the
plant installation (no surface gasifier), syngas can be author is so grateful to Geological Engineering
piped directly to the end-user, reducing the need for Undip 2009 who always supported and helped her
rail / road infrastructure, lowers the cost of to finish this paper.
environmental clean - up, due to solid waste being
confined underground, manufacture of chemicals
such as ammonia and fertilizers, synthesis of liquid REFERENCES
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Figure 1 - Indonesia Coal Basins, there are 21 basins in Indonesia that produce coal
(Direktorat Jenderal Mineral dan Batubara, 2011)
Figure 2 - The percentage of Indonesia coal quality based on caloric value, shows about 24.4% of
Indonesian coal is low caloric value and 61.4% is medium caloric value. It is in these regions that UCG has
much to offer. (Geological Resources Centre, 2006)
Figure 5 - The product of UCG is syngas that has many uses, such as power generation, methanol
production, chemical feedstock, and many others (Clean Coal Ltd.)