Pelma to become SECL's first opencast mine to produce coal under MDO mode
25 Aug 2023
SECL’s Pelma coal mine will become the first opencast mine in
Chhattisgarh to be developed under MDO (Mine Developer and Operator) mode
Pelma to become SECL's
first opencast mine to produce coal under MDO modePSU
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New
Delhi: South Eastern Coalfields Limited's (SECL) Pelma coal mine
will become the first opencast mine in Chhattisgarh to be developed under MDO
(Mine Developer and Operator) mode. SECL, a subsidiary of Coal India Limited
(CIL), has signed an agreement with Pelma Collieries to operate the Pelma
opencast mine located in Raigarh area. According to the agreement, Pelma
Collieries will operate the Pelma coal mine for the next 20 years, under which
Pelma Collieries will be responsible for all activities related to designing,
financing, procurement, construction, operation and maintenance of the project.
219 MT of high-grade coal to be extracted from SECL's Pelma coal
mine
More than 219
million tonnes of coal is proposed to be extracted from the mine during a
period of 20 years, with an annual target of 15 million tonnes of coal, said an
official statement on Thursday. High quality G-12 grade coal will be extracted
from the mine.
"The MDO
mode is a novel concept of mine operation under which the government and
private enterprises will work together to fulfil the country's energy needs.
This will help in expansion of coal production of SECL and will play an
important role in achieving 1 billion tonne production target of Coal
India," said the statement.
SECL to develop more coal mines under MDO mode
SECL has
succeeded in starting its old and closed mines under MDO mode. Ketki UG of
Bishrampur area has achieved the distinction of becoming the first coal mine in
India to produce coal on MDO mode. On the other hand, Letter of Award (LoA) has
also been issued to Kalyani UG Mine of Bhatgaon area for operating it on MDO -
revenue sharing model. Along with this, SECL is also working towards starting
other projects on MDO mode.
SECL Raigarh
area is a strategically important coalfield in terms of coal reserve and the
area will majorly contribute towards the total production of SECL in the coming
future. It is the third largest coalfield in the country with an estimated coal
reserve of about 1900 million tonnes. Rail corridor is also being developed in
this area by SECL for speedy evacuation of coal.