The South Eastern Coalfields ltd (SECl) achieved coal production of 12.87 million tonnes (MT) (provisional) against the target of 12.38 million tonnes as on December 2015, the Coal India ltd (CIl) reported in its filing to the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE).
The Coal India ltd is targeting production of 1 billion Tonnes of coal by 2020. Wagon availability will be a key factor for achieving this target by Coal India ltd. By signing of the MoU , the Railways and Coal India ltd will be entering into a strategic partnership which would ensure adequate wagon availability for meeting the transportation needs of coal produced by Coal India ltd.
Notably, the Central Government has also signed a Memorandum of Understanding each with the states of Odisha, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh for critical coal connectivity projects to improve transportation of coal, officials informed.
Notably, NTPC, Sipat and Korba stations in Chhattisgarh have informed the South Eastern Coalfields ltd (SECl) that they 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 per cent to 3 per cent by substituting imported coal with Koriya-Rewa coal, they stated.
The information was provided in an interactive session held by SECl at its headquarters here with the power utilities and Independent Power Producers (IPPs) early this month, 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, CIl has decided to set up washeries in its various subsidiaries to reduce the quantity of ash and other not useful component from coal so as to make it competitive in comparison to imported coal across the country.
The Central Mine Planning and Design Institute (CMPDI)-- a mini Navratna is also in the process of setting up an Environment laboratory at Kusmunda mines in Surguja district of Chhattisgarh.
The most important environment related activities being carried out by CMPDI is the Environment Impact Assessment and Environment Management Plan among other key tasks for the mines of Coal India limited, officials stated.
It also undertakes environmental auditing works of different coal mining projects of Coal India limited as and when required.
CMPDI also carries out the Regional Environmental Studies for different coalfields as and when need arises.
Other important activity undertaken on regular basis by CMPDI is environmental monitoring of mines of Coal India limited on behalf of subsidiary companies for compliance of statutory direction of Ministry of Environment & Forests (MoEF) and State Pollution Control Boards.
Notably, the SECl has won prestigious “Indira Priyadarshini Vriksha Mitra Award” Instituted by Union Ministry of Environment and Forest and "Jawahar lal Nehru Memorial Award For Excellence In Pollution Control" in New Delhi.
To enhance and maintain the safety awareness among workers Safety Fortnights and special safety drives are observed in mines of SECl. Awareness and Safety talks in each shift are being practiced on regular basis to develop a safety culture in accordance of “Code of Safe Practices”, officials stated.
The initial training is imparted to all new entrant and refresher training to all employees as per statute. Thrust on training and retraining of Supervisors, Support Personnel, HEMM operators and contractor’s workers was maintained as a strategy to reduce accidents due to roof/side falls in underground mines and accidents in opencast mines and at surface of mines, they stated.