Western Coalfields gets green nod for Ghonsa mine expansion

State-owned CIL subsidiary Western Coalfields Ltd (WCL) has received environment nod for expansion of production capacity of its Ghonsa open cast mine in Maharashtra entailing a cost of over Rs 102 crore.
The proposal is to increase the capacity to 0.60 mtpa from 0.45 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) with an increase in mine lease area to 278.68 hectares from 128.79 hectares.
"The Union Environment Ministry has accorded the final environment clearance to Western Coalfields' Ghonsa mine expansion proposal," a senior government official said.
The green signal to the expansion project has been given subject to compliance of some conditions, the official said.

The mine, located in the Yavatmal district, has a coal linkage with thermal power plants of Mahagenco and others. The expansion is expected to improve supply of non-coking coal for power plants and other bulk consumers in western and southern parts of the country.
The Ghonsa mine carries a total geological reserve of 20.50 mt with a mineable reserve of about 4.90 mt.
The company will use open cast method of mining with Shovel-Dumper combination. The coal will be transported in pit by dumpers and the mine will produce processed ROM coal of Grade G-9.