Petroleum and Coal Pet Coal (2019); 61(4) 682-689 ISSN 1337-7027 an open access journal Article Open Access FUEL CHARACTERISTICS OF DUDUGURU COAL FROM NASARAWA STATE IN NIGERIA Bemgba B. Nyakuma 1,2 , Aliyu Jauro 3 , Olagoke Oladokun 2,4 , Segun A. Akinyemi 5 , Mohammed B. Nasirudeen 6 , Aliyu A. Bello 4 , Habib Alkali 2 , Tuan Amran T. Abdullah 1,2 1 Hydrogen & Fuel Cell Laboratory, Centre of Hydrogen Energy, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310 Skudai, Johor Bahru, Malaysia 2 School of Chemical & Energy Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310 Skudai, Johor Bahru, Malaysia 3 National Centre for Petroleum Research & Development (NCPRD), Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, P.M.B 0248, Bauchi State, Nigeria 4 Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Maiduguri, P.M.B 1069, Bama Road, Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria 5 Department of Geology, Ekiti State University, P.M.B 5363, Ekiti State, Nigeria 6 Department of Chemistry, Federal University Lafia, P.M.B 146, Lafia, Nasarawa State, Nigeria Received March 16, 2019; Accepted May 21, 2019 Abstract The discovery of vast deposits of various ranks of coal in Nigeria presents significant opportunities to address the nation’s persistent energy crises. However, the lack of comprehensive data on the physico- chemical, calorific, microstructural, mineralogical, and thermal properties of Nigerian coals remains a significant challenge. Therefore, this paper seeks to investigate the fuel characte ristics and energy recovery potential of a newly discovered coal from Duduguru in Obi Local Government Area of Nasa- rawa State, Nigeria. Results revealed that Duduguru (DDG) coal contains high carbon (59.6%), oxygen (32.9%), volatile matter (76.4%), fixed carbon (16.6%) and higher heating value (HHV = 26.6 MJ/kg), but low nitrogen (1.3%), sulphur (0.6%), moisture (6.5%), and ash (0.5%) content. Based on these properties, DDG is classified as a non-agglomerating, sub-bituminous, grade “A” coal with potentials for electricity generation, cement production, among others. The mineralogical analyses revealed quartz, kaolinite, and aluminosilicates are present in its microstructure. Thermal analysis revealed that DDG is more thermally reactive under flash combustion (FCO) based on its higher mass loss (ML ) and lower residual mass (RM) compared to flash pyrolysis (FPY) conditions. The temperature profile charac- teristics of DDG under FCO were considerably lower than the FPY. In conclusion, the findings indicate that combustion is a more practical route for efficient energy recovery from DDG coal in the future . Keywords: Fuel characterization; Energy; Duduguru; Coal; Nasarawa; Nigeria. 1. Introduction The discovery of vast deposits of various ranks of coal in Nigeria presents significant op- portunities to address the nation’s persistent energy crises [1] . Despite Nigeria's position as Africa’s largest economy and most populous nation, socioeconomic growth and sustainable development remain a significant challenge [2] . Many analysts have attributed the nation’s energy c rises to numerous socioeconomic , geopolitical, environmental, and technological chal- lenges [3] . Most notably, the lack of comprehensive data on Nigerian coals has hampered progress in the area of power plant development, efficient energy recovery, and resource management [4-5] . Currently, the available data on Nigerian coals is mostly limited to their geological, petrographic, and seismologic properties [6-9] . However, these properties of coal are not crucial for energy recovery, resource management or the design and operation of coal- fired power plants. 682