NTPC ltd’s Korba thermal power station is set to gain immensely from the expansion projects of South Eastern Coalfields ltd (SECl) in Chhattisgarh in the context of coal supplies.
SECl’s mega expansion plans for open cast mines in Kusmunda Block and Gevra mines would ensure additional coal availability for NTPC’s Korba Station in the long run in the State, officials stated.
Both the NTPC’s Sipat and Korba stations in Chhattisgarh have already informed SECl that the stations have stopped taking imported coal with the use of higher grade coal sourced from SECl’s Koriya-Rewa mining belt, officials stated.
The specific consumption of coal by the two thermal power stations has been reduced by 2% to 3% by substituting imported coal with Koriya-Rewa coal, officials stated.
The information was provided at an interactive session held by SECl at its headquarters in Bilaspur with the power utilities and Independent Power Producers (IPPs) recently, officials stated.
SECl officials in the meeting had further informed the power utilities regarding installation of Coal Washeries at Kusmunda (20 million tonnes capacity) and Baroud (5 million tonnes capacity ) which are likely to be commissioned by October 1, 2016.
Notably, the Central Government has also decided to transport coal above G10 level only after being washed from October 1, 2017. The decision is taken to tackle the quality issue of the coal produced.
In order to meet the rising demand, Coal India ltd (CIl) has been setting up 15 new washeries with a total capacity of 112.6 million tonnes per annum. Out of these washeries, six are Coking Coal washeries with total capacity of 18.6 million tonnes per annum and nine Non-Coking washeries of 94.0 million tonnes per annum. Apart from these, 3 washeries of 11.6 million tonnes per annum are under construction, officials stated.
Notably, SECl has already received forest clearance for Gevra Expansion Open Cast mining spread in Forest land area measuring 803.11 hectares in Korba district of Chhattisgarh under 'Stage-II Forest Clearance'.
The clearances had been accorded by Union Ministry of Forest, Environment and Climate Change, officials stated.
The SECl had also received forest clearance for Chirmiri open cast mine in Koriya district and Bijari Open cast mine in Raigarh district.
Notably, SECl has also prepared a detailed action plan for the development of the green belt around mine lease area for Kusmunda Open Cast Expansion Project in Surguja district of Chhattisgarh.
The company has proposed to develop a Green belt barrier for a width of (75-100 m) around the periphery of the mine in safety zone area. Three-tier plantations will be done with native species (neem, semal, palash, amaltas, gulmohar, etc.)
Notably, SECl will also be setting up a Coal Washery unit at Kusmunda mines with a capacity of 25 Million Tonnes Per Year (MTY) in Korba district of Chhattisgarh, officials stated.
The company is also planning to extract coal from the Ketki Underground Mine in Surguja district of Chhattisgarh without any blasting done in the mining process.
The SECl would get a scientific study done for obtaining permission from Directorate General of Mine Safety (DGMS) for the introduction of Continuous Miner or Similar Equipment with Continuous Cutting Technology in the aforesaid mine and strata monitoring as required by DGMS.
On the other hand, notably, SECl would also be utilising fixed water sprinkler for dust suppression system at coal stockyard and coal transportation roads at Baroud Open Cast Mine (OCM) of Baroud Sub-Area of Raigarh district.
SECl intends to get coal extracted from Kusmunda mine by Surface Miners and get it transported through covered conveyor system after the expansion of the mine is completed in Korba district of Chhattisgarh, officials stated. The Kusmunda Opencast Project will be in a total Mining lease (Ml) area of 3510.348 hectares after the expansion of the project.