ABSTRACT
Despite continuing efforts to find alternative and environmentally safe energy sources, coal remains a major fuel used for production of electricity worldwide. In the world today, about 25% of the energy produced, or 38% of the total electricity consumed, is generated from coal. Although a declining trend of coal use was recorded recently [1], the forecast is that coal consumption for energy production will increase. This is because the energy requirements continue to increase in response to a steadily increasing world population and coal remains an abundant and relatively cheap natural energy source.
