Unlike many raw materials, coal is of service not only to one industry, but to many. Indeed, it has been used as the original source of practically all our heat and power. It was used for domestic fires, electrical generation, iron and steel production, chemical industries, gas production, engineering, railways, shipping and other industries.

Before Natural Gas was discovered, Town Gas produced from coal was used. Coke was the main by-product of this gas production, along with a huge variety of other by-products. These by-products are coal tar, benzol, pitch, creosote, nylon, solvents for paints, varnish and others.