Coal news and updates

Further decline in India’s underground coal output

August 12: India’s coal production from underground mining operation of Coal India Ltd (CIL) and Singareni Collieries Company Ltd (SCCL) fell by 5.87% in 2013-14 compared to 2012-13, according to a compilation by a wing of the Ministry of Coal and available with ICMW.

Total production from underground mines in 2013-14 stood at 46.47 million tons (mt), down from 49.37 mt produced in 2012-13, the data revealed.

Both CIL and SCCL registered a decline in their underground coal production in 2013-14 in line with the trend witnessed during the past 11 years.

While CIL’s underground coal production fell to 36.11 mt in 2013-14 from 37.78 mt in 2012-13, SCCL’s production fell to 10.36 mt from 11.60 mt in 2012-13, according to the data.

The following table gives detailed break-up of coal production through underground and opencast routes by CIL and SCCL from 2003-04 to 2013-14:

In order to enhance underground coal production, the government has directed CIL and SCCL to take certain measures, the official said.

CIL has been directed to gradually convert manual underground mines into semi mechanised technology like load haul dump (LHD)/side discharge loader (SDL) with universal drilling machine (UDM) and deploy mass production technology, ie, use of Continuous Miner and Long Wall technology and development in transport infrastructure.

The clearance has been given to CIL to deploy 7 Continuous Miners with a capacity of about 2.835 million tons per annum while a project report for 20 mines has been approved for deployment of 25 Continuous Miners with total capacity of 11.385 mtpa.

In addition, orders have been issued for operating five mines with Long-Wall technology in CIL.

So far as SCCL is concerned, one underground mine with new-generation Long Wall technology is under construction. It is designed for rated production of 2.81 mtpa. Also, the company plans to start three new continuous miners against nine underground mines that are likely to be closed during the 12th Plan.

SCCL is reconstructing existing mines for optimum production by intermediate and high-end technology and improving productivity in the existing mines by improving the utilisation of the equipment besides expediting exploration of new coal blocks.