Centre to engage ‘Mining Developers cum Operators’ for major coal mine projects
14 Aug 2024
© Provided by The Statesman
With an
aim to revolutionize coal mining, the Ministry of Coal has embarked on a
transformative initiative by engaging Mining Developers cum Operators (MDOs)
for major coal mine projects.
The
MDOs will be engaged under Coal India Limited (CIL) to significantly enhance
coal production, reduce reliance on imported coal, and introduce cutting-edge
technology into the mining sector.
These MDOs are tasked with
excavating, extracting, and delivering coal to Coal India Limited (CIL)
according to approved mining plans, thereby boosting domestic coal output. By
partnering with MDOs known for their advanced technological capabilities, CIL
aims to modernize mining practices and improve operational efficiency, it added.
Initially,
CIL identified 15 coal mine projects with a combined capacity of ~168 MT for
MDO implementation. This number has now expanded to 28 projects (18 opencast
and 10 underground mines) with a total capacity of ~257 MT.
As of today, 18 mines
have been awarded to leading private parties, marking a significant milestone
in this ambitious endeavor.