CIL issues EOIs for seven UG mines

The blocks are under its five coal subsidiaries - Eastern Coalfields (ECL), Bharat Coking Coal (BCCL), Mahanadi Coalfields (MCL), South Eastern Coalfields (SECL) and Western Coalfields (WCL). There are two underground blocks each in the ECL and SECL areas and one each in the BCCL, MCL and WCL areas.

Coal India director (technical), N C Jha said, the EOIs have been issued for the development, construction, operation and maintenance of the underground blocks. Domestic and international private players can participate in the EOIs.

The players will also be working on the potential of the underground blocks and mines measuring their loss percentage alongside preparing techno-feasibility reports.

CIL also plans to set up some new UG mines with capacities of 2 - 5 million tonnes.

All CIL subsidiaries have been told to get their resources together for setting up at least one such UG mine in each area at a minimum investment of Rs 300 crore.

CIL has plans of setting up 5 new UG mines across its subsidiaries.

CIL is also working out overseas technical tie-ups with countries like China, Australia, Indonesia, Canada and USA for raising UG mine production.

The focus on UG mines is mostly because of coal lying about 300 metres under the ground. Of late, the public sector coal behemoth has focussed its attention on raising underground (UG) coal production across the country from the current 43 million tonnes to 75 million tonnes.