The new chairman cum Managing Director (CMD) of Central Mine Planning and Design Institute (CMPDI), Shekhar Saran vowed to help Coal India limited in meeting the 1-billion tonne coal production mark through better planning and consultancy. Saran stepped into the shoes of CMD of the Mini Ratna company on January 1.
Prior to becoming CMD of the fully owned subsidiary of CIl, Saran served as the Director (Technical) of CMPDI at Ranchi.
“My top priority is to help Coal India limited in reaching the target of 1-billion tonne coal production mark. We will assist CIl companies in whatever way they would require and through our expertise,” said Saran.
Notwithstanding, the targets for coal production, Saran emphasised that the Mini Ratna needs to focus more on developing sources of clean energy by building capacity and starting more projects of coal-bed methane (CBM), solar energy and other types of alternate sources to meet country’s energy requirements. Offsetting the negative impact of green house gas and using information technology in the company’s affairs ranked among the list of priorities of the new CMD.
“We have to continue mining for another 15-20 years as India has no immediate option and we have to think for alternative. CMPDI has to think in that line. We need to delve into clean energy, washed coal and advanced technologies so that bad effects of green house could be neutralised,” maintained Saran.
The subsidiary of CIl has been focusing on sources of clean energy- CBM, solar energy, shale gas – and confided that work in these areas have increased manifold. “We anticipate that by next year we would start CBM projects at some coal mines and our target is that by 2017 we would implement CBM project at Raniganj,” pointed out Saran.
Saran accentuated significance of CMPDI for mining industry as he underscored the need for the company to put newer ideas and advance technology to use for the growth of the sector that among others drives energy and steel sector in the country. Even as the CMPDI’s focus would be to neutralize green house effect, the company has also taken up the responsibility of assisting production of higher grade coal through added infrastructure under its fold.
“The company is setting up 10-15 coal washeries to reduce ash content in coal to convert it into superior grade so that it can be transported to other parts of the country. The Ministry has specified that coal with 34 per cent ash content should not be transported beyond 500km,” pointed out the new CMD.
"Washing is another important option as the more we burn impure coal more ash will be generated. We have been working on potential areas from last 8-10 years and now time has come for execution,” Saran told.
Saran graduated in Mining Engineering (in 1981) from IIT-BHU, Varanasi. Being the topper of the batch, he was the recipient of BHU Gold Medal as well as Roberton Medal from MGMI. He also did his Executive MBA from IIM, Ranchi. He started his career in the coal industry from Sohagpur area of South Eastern Coalfields limited (SECl) in the year 1981. He served in various capacities in SECl& Eastern Coalfields limited (ECl).