Coal news and updates

SCCL gets environment nod for mining expansion in AP

March 3: Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) recently received environmental clearance from the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) for capacity expansion of Manuguru opencast –II coal mining project  in Andhra Pradesh to 6.25 million tons per annum (mtpa) from the current capacity of 5 mtpa.

Some areas of the proposed expansion project are yet to receive stage I forest clearance and clearance from the standing committee of the National Board for Wildlife.

According to a letter addressed to SCCL, total land requirement for the project will be 3205.76 hectare, out of which 2,673.70 hectare or 83.40% is forest land. Out of this total forest land, SCCL received stage I forest clearance for 994.14 hectare so far while clearance for the balance forest land of 1,679.56 hectare is still pending. "No mining operations shall be undertaken in the 1,679.56 hectare forest land until clearance has been obtained...," the letter said.

"Total geological reserves in the proposed expansion area are 344.88 million ton (mt), out of which mineable reserves are 264.20 mt and extractable reserves are at 244.78 mt. The extraction would be 71%," the letter added.