CIL invites bids for consultancy on its underground mining

State-owned Coal India (CIL) has invited bids from both global and domestic companies for providing consultancy for study on underground coal mining in the PSU.
The development follows Coal Ministry asking CIL for a detailed subsidiary-wise action plan for improving the output from its underground (UG) mines.
"CMPDI, on behalf of Coal India Ltd (CIL) invites bids from academic/research institutions and/or consultancy firms/organisations of India or abroad for providing consultancy services for "study on Underground Coal Mining in CIL-problems, potential, technology, modernisation, production and safety," said a CIL tender document.
CIL at present is producing 37 million tonnes (MT) of coal from its 237 underground mines.

The Ministry has also asked CIL for reasons for less production from underground (UG) mines where huge manpower has been deployed.
The Ministry also asked the maharatna firm, which accounts for over 80 per cent of the domestic coal production, for figures of last 10 years for underground and opencast separately pertaining to production and manpower.

CIL operates 429 mines of which 237 are underground, 166 opencast and 26 mixed mines.
Coal India had missed its output target of 482 MT for 2013-14, producing 462 MT during the period.
Of the 462 MT coal production in FY'14, 37 MT was from underground mines.

In 2012-13, the company produced 452.5 MT of coal, falling short of the 464 MT target. Coal India's output target for 2014-15 has been set at 507 MT, while the offtake target is 520 MT.