Goyal to inaugurate 2 WCL coal mines by month-end

In past seven months, Western Coalfields has opened 8 mines, says Coal Minister Piyush Goyal

Coal and Power Minister Piyush Goyal will inaugurate by month-end two mines of Western Coalfields Ltd, an arm of Coal India which is working towards meeting one billion tonnes production over the next 5 years.

"Towards the end of October, probably around 25th, I am going to open two more mines," Goyal said.

In the past seven months, WCL has opened eight mines, he said, adding, "ever heard in the history of India that the government company is opening 10 mines in 10 months".

In 24 months, starting from March, WCL would have opened 24 mines, he added.

According to a WCL official, two mines to be opened this month are Dinesh open cast project having a production capacity of 4 million tonnes per annum and Yekona open cast project with 2.75 mtpa.

Both mines are greenfield projects.

Although the government is optimistic that CIL will meet the billion tonne production target by 2020, the Maharatna firm recorded an output of 37.17 million tonnes in September, missing the target of 38.77 million tonnes or by 4.1 per cent.

CIL had missed the production target for 2014-15 by 3 per cent, recording an output of 494.23 million tonnes. The company accounts for more than 80 per cent of the domestic coal production.