What is the importance of coal as a source of energy and as a source of raw material?

Coal is used as a source of energy for the generation of power in thermal power plants, to supply current and supply energy to the industries. It plays an important role in industries as a source of power. It can be converted into gas, oil, electricity, thermal power.

Coal forms a basic raw material for the production of chemicals, dyes, fertilizers, paints, synthetics, and explosives. It is used in steel industries for smelting iron-ore in blast furnaces. Its by-products re benzol, ammonia gas, naphtha, phenol tar and sulphur are of immense use.