Coal news and updates

SECL gets nod for Kusmunda mine expansion in Chhattisgarh

March 14: South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL), a subsidiary of Coal India Limited (CIL), recently received environmental clearance from the Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF) for mining expansion of Kusmunda opencast project to a peak 18.75 million tons per annum (mtpa) capacity from current capacity of 15.00 mtpa, according to information available with ICMW.

The clearance was given by the MoEF for expansion of capacity at Kusmunda by 25% within the existing mine lease area of 2536.656 hectares.

While providing the clearance, the MoEF said, of the total forest land in the area, proposal of Stage I clearance of 205.96 hectares of forest land for phase I is due with MoEF while additional forest clearance of 253.489 hectares of forest land for phase II is under process.

The total geological reserves at Kusmunda are estimated at 886.68 million tons (mt), while the mineable reserves are 415.03 mt, (as on March 31, 2013) and extractable reserves are 415.03 mt (as on March 31, 2013).

The clearance to SECL for Kusmunda is, however, subject to the outcome of the court case filed against the company related to higher than sanctioned production of coal in 2008-09, which is pending in the court of the Judicial Magistrate - Class I, Katghora, district, Korba, Chhatishgarh.