Mineral Resources Potential - Geothermal Resources

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204 Mineral Resources Potential of Ethiopia
more energy-efficient way of using coal far eldcity production
would be via solid-oxide fuel cells or molten-carbonate fuel cells
(or any oxygen ion tramport based fuel cells that do not
discriminate between fuels, as long as they consume oxygen),
which' would be able to get 60%-85% combined efficiency (ditect
electricity + waste heat steam turbine), compared to 3540%
normally obtained with steam-ody turbines.
Coal degasits in Ethiopia
Geological Mng of coal dccumnc~~ of Ethiopia
The coal occurrence of Ethiopia has been studied by several
geologists and a number of reviiws, classifications and summaries
have been published (Jelenc, 1966, Getaneh, 1985, Getaneh and
Ssxena, 1984, Wolela, 1991,1995 and others). Most of the Ethiopian
coals fall in the category of lignite. he& coal seams are f&
associated and interbedded with the Cenozoic volcanics of the
Northern Ethiopian F lateau. Some are associated with sediments that
occur between the Mesozoic continental clastics and the Cenozoic
volcanics, or sandwiched between the Precambrian hasement rocks
and the Cenozoic volcanics (Getaneh, 1985, Getaneh and &err,
1984). The lignite seams differ greatly both in their vertical
thickness and lateral extent, and- the nature of their occurrence.
Whereas some of them have relatively good lateral extension, the
eeds about 1.4 m, though some may
locally attain greater thicknesses. Table 10 lists the major lignite
seams and the areas where they are found. According to Getaneh,
199 1, depending upon their geological setting, the lignite deposits
of Ethiopia can be broadly grouped into the following types:
. 1. Inter-Trappean Lignite (Chilga Type);
2. Infka-Trappem lignite (Arjo type);
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