<p>Disclosed is a process for the treatment of watercontaining coal which comprises mixing the water-containing coal with a hydrocarbon oil having a specific gravity higher than that of water at temperatures in the range of 100.degree. to 350.degree.C; heating the resulting mixture at a temperature in the range of 100.degree. to 350.degree.C and a pressure not lower than the saturated vapor pressure of water at that temperature; and then allowing the heated mixture to settle at a temperature in the range of 100.degree. to 350.degree.C and a pressure not lower than the saturated vapor pressure of water at that temperature, whereby an upper layer consisting of the water separated from the water-containing coal is formed on a lower layer consisting of the mixture of the dehydrated coal and the hydrocarbon oil.</p>
