Abstract: A wet coal drying apparatus is provided for use in conjunction with a coal burning furnace for drying wet coal prior to loading the coal into the furnace. The drying apparatus of the present invention comprises a first conveyor means for transporting the coal from a storage area or coal crusher to an elevated position and a wet coal dryer means for transporting the coal from the elevated position to a utility conveyor while drying the coal. The wet coal dryer means includes an enclosed type conveyor whereby the coal is transported through the interior of the enclosed dryer means. In addition, a fluid conduit feeds hot gases, preferably either a diverted portion of the exhaust gases from the furnace or, alternatively, hot air from a heat exchanger, to the lower end of the dryer means so that the hot gases pass upwardly through the interior of the dryer means.