Couldn't coal be used more efficiently for power generation?

Comments on Alan Kohler “Time for a gas explosion”, 1/09/2009, http://www.businessspectator.com.au/bs.nsf/Article/Time-for-a-gas-explosion-pd20090901-VFSU7?OpenDocument&src=sph

Talking about coal fired power stations, I suddenly recall many years (perhaps more than two decades) ago that people were talking about to convert coal into gas of semi gas, or possibly semi liquefied products. At that time, it was not for reasons of emissions, it was for fuel efficiency. I got the impression then that the technologies were commercially available.

What about their impact on emissions if fuel efficiency can be improved through those means? Effectively, the same output of electricity would consume only a fraction of what when hard coal is used. That is a reduction in emissions.

We have heard of people trying for emissions storage underground, why don't people take an interim step?