The need for a rapid method of determining the technological characteristics of coal has been increasing in the last decades. The coal industry demands methods of coal analysis on a rapid and reasonably accurate basis, In this report, a non-conventional system for moisture analysis of thermal coal, based on capacitance techniques, is proposed. A device for non-continuous analysis based on this technique is designed and developed. Such device simulates a cylindrical condenser, in which coal acts as the dielectric material. The device is used to measure moisture content in coals. The results from the statistical analyses and conclusions are presented. Also, on-site potential use of capacitance techniques is shown. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V All rights reserved.