The economic implications of coal established in each of the four different wells of mui basin in parts of mwingi and kitui districts in Kenya

A total of seventy nine samples from four different wells of Mui basin in parts of Mwingi and Kitui districts in Kenya were examined in order to establish the presence and quality of coal. The research was based on a proximate analysis which involved analysis of seven parameters per each sample based on ASTM standards (ASTM, 1991, Speight, 1983).The parameters were; determination of calorific value, fixed carbon, sulphur content, volatile matter, moisture content, ash content and iron. Proximate analysis is the determination of overall composition of coal sample (Spheight, 1983; Barbaras, 1991). The results obtained provided quick and valuable information regarding commercial classification and determination of the suitability of the coal from Mui basin identified for a particular industrial use (Dara, 2004). About 80% of the samples could be classified as industrial fuel, while the rest could be suitable for domestic fuel. But with reference to specific uses, 63% of the coal samples were found to be suitable for power generation, 19% for domestic fuel, gaseous fuel or tar distillation while the rest (18%) could be suitable for use in metallurgical coking.