Coal industry and electric power

Uzbekistan has little coal; its main reserves are in the Angren, Shargun and Boysun deposits. The Angren deposit is brown coal lying close to the surface; it started in the 1950s and most of its coal is mined by the open-pit method. In open-pit mining one worker produces about 6 times more coal than underground, and the bigger the pit, the lower the cost. Angren coal is of low quality but the reserves are large and close to consumers, so most is burned in thermal power plants near the mine, and part is converted to gas underground. The coal seams also hold clay, a raw material for aluminium, and rare elements. The Shargun deposit in Surkhandarya gives high-quality hard coal mined underground, and fine coal is pressed into briquettes. Open-pit mining leaves large areas covered with waste, and smoke and dust harm farming; as a remedy damaged land is recultivated, that is, restored. Demand for coal has grown, so it does not cover all needs.