Three-day (5-7 August, 19) national seminar on ‘coal quality’ has begun with focus on quality of coal and other related issues at Indian Institute of Coal Management (IICM), Kanke, Ranchi. The programme is organized by IICM with objective for a sustainable energy future in the country.
Chairman-cum-Managing Director, CCL Gopal Singh was the Chief Guest of the programme, which started with lighting up ceremonial lamp by the CMD, Gopal Singh; Director (Fin),N K Agarwal; CSIR-CIMFR, Dr. T Gouri Charan; Prof. M.P Dixit, IIT Khargpur and P C Mishra, Executive Head, IICM.
The Chief Guest applauded the efforts of organizers for choosing Coal Quality as a subject of national seminar as coal continues to be one of the most important sources for meeting the domestic energy needs and it accounts for 62 % of the country’s total energy supplies. He further said that it is very important to provide electricity to the consumers at the cheapest price so that the poor of the poorest families can consume electricity and raise their living standards. “ It is our moral responsibility as a citizen of India,” Sri Singh said.
Indian coal has high ash content. The average ash contain in Indian coal is 35-38 per cent while imported coal ash content 10-15 per cent. The Chief Guest in his address said that we must reduce ash content in coal for the survival of the industry. “It is a matter of just our mindset. Washing, segregation of stone etc will help to reduce the ash content,” Singh said. He directly interacted with participants and satisfied their quarries in respect to coal quality.
The Chief Guest further stated that it is mandatory to supply 100 per cent crushed coal of (-) 100 mm size to power sector consumers and other categories of consumers.
Different technical sessions are lined up during three-day long programme on various issues related to coal quality like methodology of grading coal, coal quality: the need for control, issues in sampling and analysis of India coal etc.
IICM has been meeting the continuing educational & training need of different corporate bodies in general and companies in Coal Sector in particular. Coal India and its subsidiaries, Singareni Collieries Co. Ltd., etc. regularly participate in the training programmes offered by the institute.
