Canmet 1 : A National Leader in Coal R&D

Abstract

CANMET and its predecessor, the Mines Branch, have played a pivotal role in maintaining and establishing new national and international markets for Canadian coals since 1905. Prior to 1960 most of CANMET's research effort focused on expanding the economic use of indigenous coals for residential and commercial heating, process steam, rail and ship transport, city gas production and cokemaking. In the intervening years, in response to changing industrial needs, CANMET's R&D has largely concentrated on maintaining overseas niches for thermal coals for electricity generation and blast furnace injection. Today CANMET's program addresses major concerns with the use of coal as an energy resource – more efficient conversion to alternate energy forms, more effective control of emissions to minimize environmental impact and more economical application of expert and advanced systems for optimizing operating conditions.