Jindal Power asked to get Coal, Power Min nod for mine expansion

Company had approached Environment Ministry seeking clearances for expanding capacity in Chhattisgarh mine

An Environment Ministry panel has asked Jindal Power to first get approvals from Coal and Power Ministries before seeking environmental clearances for nearly doubling coal production to 12 million tonnes per annum from a mining project in Chhattisgarh.

Jindal Power Ltd (JPL) had approached the Environment Ministry seeking clearances for expanding the capacity of Gare Palma coal mine from 6.25 million tonnes per annum to 12 million tonnes alloted to it in 1998 for a power project at Tamnar in Chhattisgarh.

The Expert Appraisal Committee after deliberation said that "the increased production will reduce coal availability years for the original plant (4x250 MW)."

Consequently, it "desired that the proponent should come back with the permission from the Ministry of Power and Ministry of Coal for the proposed expansion production from the mine originally allocated to match the requirement of 4x250 MW for its full life", sources said.

The mining operation for the power firm's 5.25 million tonnes opencast mine -- which was earlier accorded environmental clearances -- started in 2006.

The entire coal is being supplied to 1,000 MW Thermal Power Plant at Tamnar, located about 7 km away from the mine.

JPL later applied for enhancement of capacity of mine from 5.25 million tonnes per annum to 6.25 million tonnnes, following which the environmental clearance was accorded for capacity expansion.

JPL which proposes to expand the capacity of its 1,000 MW power plant at Tamnar in Chhattisgarh to 3,400 MW and is seeking the expansion of its coal mining projects to feed the plant.