Coal news and updates

MoEF Green signal to Hind Energy washery expansion

May 23: The Ministry of Environment & Forests (MoEF) has given environment clearance for the expansion of the dry type coal washery of Hind Energy & Coal Beneficiation (India) Pvt Ltd at Bilaspur in Chhattisgarh to 3.6 million tons per annum (mtpa) from the previous capacity of 2.4 mtpa, a ministry official said.

The capital cost of expansion of the washery is Rs 15.40 crore.

The washery processes run-of–mine (ROM) coal with ash percent of 41.-42% and will produce clean coal with ash content of 32-37% with reject ash content of 60-75%, the official said.

The company, however, will not be able to set up any private coal handling plant (CHP) as the nearby Gevra and Kusmunda railway sidings are under the jurisdiction of South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL).

The letter from the MoEF indicates that as per information from the Railway, loading and unloading is done mostly through payloaders, even by SECL, rather than coal handling plants. “The proponent has informed that they will use only one to two rakes daily. Sidings where unloading is done is under the jurisdiction of SECR (Railway) Gatora line and, therefore, feasibility of mechanised unloading is not possible,” the letter added.

Hind Energy said it was granted permission only for loading of coal from private railway sidings. “However, they will explore the feasibility of the mechanical system and will check for the viability of the same and proceed further accordingly,” the letter further added.