Page 3 - Coal Mines

Tata Steel, JSW Steel among bidders for mines under coal block auction

Tata Steel, JSW Steel and Rungta Sons are among the 27 companies which have submitted bids for coal blocks put up for commercial mines auction, the government said on Tuesday. "A total of 27 companies including major companies like Tata Steel Ltd, JSW Steel Ltd, Rungta Sons Pvt Ltd., etc. have submitted their bids in the auction process," the coal ministry said in a statement. Other companies which submitted bids include ACC Ltdd, J K Cement and Thriveni Earthmovers. A total of 27 coal mines have been put up for auction in the ninth round of auction. A total of 33 bids were received for 13 coal mines. Under the second attempt of the seventh round of auction, a total of five coal mines were put up for auction and seven bids were received against three coal mines, the coal ministry said. "The online bids were decrypted and opened electronically in the presence of the bidders. Subsequently, sealed envelopes containing offline bid documents were also opened in the presence of bidders

JSW Steel in talks with Australia's Whitehaven for coal mine stake

The miner acquired the Blackwater and Daunia mines from BHP Group in a $4.1 billion deal last October, and expects the acquisition to complete in early April

Rescuers deployed in search for 9 workers missing at Turkish gold mine

Hundreds of rescuers on Wednesday pressed ahead with efforts to search for at least nine workers trapped at a gold mine in eastern Turkiye that was engulfed by a massive landslide. The landslide struck the Copler mine in the town of Ilic in Turkiye's mountainous Erzincan province on Tuesday. Footage seemingly shot by a worker showed a huge mass of earth rushing down a gully, overrunning everything in its path. The landslide involved a mound of soil extracted from the mine, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said. Some 800 search and rescue personnel, including police and military teams, mine rescuers and volunteers, were deployed to find the mine workers, Yerlikaya said early Wednesday. Other workers at the mine have also joined the efforts to rescue their colleagues, while families of the missing waited at an area close to the mine for news of their loved ones, Haberturk television reported. An investigation into the disaster has been launched. Experts, meanwhile, have warned that t

Mine bidders to face penalties for delays; Centre proposes timelines

The government has outlined timelines for various activities involved in the process, accompanied by penalties for delays attributable to the bidder

Coal India aims to deploy 681 EVs at mines, subsidiary headquarters by FY26

State-owned Coal India Ltd aims to take the total number of e-vehicles at its mines to 681 by FY2025-26 from 178 at present, the government said on Wednesday. Coal and Mines Minister Pralhad Joshi in a written reply to the Lok Sabha said that Coal India Ltd is asserting on hiring electric vehicles at different mines and subsidiary headquarters. The present number of e-vehicles in Coal India Limited is 178, he said. The total target for e-vehicles in FY26 is 681, the minister said. Coal India Limited has taken various initiatives for reduction of carbon emission in mining operations which includes deployment of e-vehicles in all its subsidiary companies, he said. CIL accounts for over 80 per cent of domestic coal output.

Nitin Gadkari proposes use of non-functional coal mines in Vidarbha

Union minister Nitin Gadkari on Sunday said those coal mines in Maharashtra's Vidarbha region and WCL areas which are economically not viable, produce low-quality coal, and where mining is almost stopped can be used for coal gasification projects. He was addressing a session on 'coal gasification' at the Advantage Vidarbha event in Nagpur city which was attended by coal secretary Amritlal Meena, Niti Aayog member VK Saraswat and Coal India Limited (CIL) chairman PM Prasad among others. During his speech, the Minister for Road Transport and Highways asked the CIL and the Coal Ministry whether "coal mines which are economically not viable and those with low-quality coal and where mining is almost stopped in Vidarbha and Western Coal Fields (WCL) areas" could be used for coal gasification projects. He also pitched for the use of non-viable coal blocks and low-quality ones under WCL areas for coal gasification. The Union minister backed public-private partnerships in coal gasification

299 mines identified as abandoned, discontinued or closed so far: Govt

The government on Friday said it has identified 299 mines as abandoned, discontinued, or closed so far and Coal India Ltd has taken proactive steps towards the closure of these mines. In addition, an expert committee has been appointed to review the existing mine plan guidelines to strengthen the mine closure framework and to adopt best international practices. "A total of 169 pre-2009 and 130 post-2009 mines, considered abandoned, discontinued, or closed, have been identified. "Of these, 68 pre-2009 mines are marked for final closure, with 63 Final Mine Closure Plans (FMCPs) diligently prepared. Additionally, 14 pre-2009 mines are designated for temporary closure, with comprehensive Temporary Mine Closure Plans (TMCPs) developed for each," the coal ministry said in a statement. Mines closed before 2009 often lacked a structured closure framework, leading to non-scientific closures. Acknowledging the physical hazards and environmental consequences associated with these abandoned .

The impetus should originate in states: Union minister Pralhad Joshi

In an interview with Nitin Kumar, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi says the government has taken proactive steps to develop a secure supply chain for critical minerals

Govt reviews captive coal mines status; urges allottees to rise production

The coal ministry on Thursday reviewed the status of commercial and captive coal blocks that have already started production as well as those which are expected to commence production. During a high level meeting to review the status of 'producing and expected to produce' captive and commercial coal mines, Additional Secretary at the ministry M Nagaraju also urged the allottees to put in further efforts to achieve the committed coal output target for the current fiscal, an official statement said. As of December, 50 captive and commercial coal mines were under production. According to the statement, Nagaraju also "impressed upon the allottees to take necessary steps to operationalise the coal blocks that are in advanced stages of operationalisation". Within three-and-a-half years of commencing commercial coal mines auction in 2020, 6 mines with a cumulative Peak Rated Capacity (PRC) of 14.87 million tonnes (MT) have already started production. In December 2023, the total coal ...

Govt plans financial support for coal gasification, higher production

Rolling out a policy to provide financial support for coal gasification projects, augmenting production and promoting underground mining activities are among the government's priorities for the coal sector, which is key to meet the country's rising electricity demand. Besides, efforts will be made to bring more captive and commercial coal mines into operation, improve the quality of the dry fuel and transportation infrastructure for environmental sustainability. Digitisation of mine records is also on the cards. In an interview to PTI, Coal Secretary Amrit Lal Meena said the government has already notified two policies with respect to coal gasification and plans to provide financial support as well as tax incentives for such projects. The ministry of coal has set a target to gasify 100 Million Tonnes (MT) of coal by FY 2030 in line with its energy transition plans. "Now, we are coming out with a policy for certain financial support and tax incentives (for coal gasification projects

Centre formally allocates Latehar coal block in Jharkhand to NLC India

The Centre has formally allocated a coal block in Jharkhand to NLC India Ltd, the state-owned entity said on Friday. The PSU had emerged as successful bidder for North Dhadu (Western Part) mine in Latehar district of Jharkhand under commercial auctions held in August. "The vesting order (for coal blocks was) issued by Secretary (Coal) to NLC India Ltd in the ceremony conducted on December 14, 2023," NLC India Ltd said in a filing to the BSE. This coal mine has reserves of 434.65 million tonnes and its peak rated capacity is three million tonnes per annum. NLC India is a Navratna company under the coal ministry. The core business of the PSU is mining and power generation.

Booming Indian coal demand driving up the shares of state-run giants

NTPC, which produces mostly coal-fired power, has surged 78%, far ahead of a gain of 17% in the broader Nifty Index, while shares of Coal India are up 55% for their best year in 2023

Coal output from captive, commercial mines rises 37% to 11.9 MT in November

The government on Saturday said coal production from captive, commercial coal mines registered a 37 per cent rise to 11.94 Million Tonnes (MT) in November. The coal output from captive, commercial coal mines was at 8.74 MT in November 2022-23. Coal dispatch from captive, commercial coal mines in November was at 12.92 MT, registering a growth of 55 per cent as against 8.36 MT in the year-ago period. "The average daily coal dispatch from such mines in November 2023 is the highest ever with 4.3 lakh tonnes per day," the coal ministry said in a statement. The total coal production from captive, commercial coal mines during the April-November period was around 83.90 MT, while the total coal dispatch was 89.67 MT, registering a year-on-year growth of 24 per cent and 31 per cent, respectively, from the same period in FY23. The government is committed to achieving the target coal production and dispatch, which is a crucial step towards ensuring the country's energy security and driving ..

Centre owes Jharkhand Rs 1.36 trillion over mined coal: Hemant Soren

The Centre owes Rs 1.36 lakh crore to Jharkhand on account of coal that is mined from the state, Chief Minister Hemant Soren claimed on Friday. Addressing a public meeting here, he alleged that when asked about this money, the Centre resorts to tactics for evading it. "Coal is extracted from Jharkhand and on account of it, Rs 1.36 lakh crore is outstanding with the Centre. When asked about the outstanding amount, it evades with one reason or the other. Those who have ruled the state for 20 years never asked for this amount or the rights of the state. This money belongs to the people of Jharkhand," he said. Soren alleged that the Centre has stopped providing funds for housing for the poor, and natural disasters such as drought. "Today, we are building this state on our own. One has to fight for one's rights. Sometimes long movements have to be made for this. For this, we have to unite. We will fight this battle of ours together and will retain our rights," he said. Sharpening his .

8th round of commercial coal mines auction to be launched on Nov 15

A total of 39 mines will be put on sale in the eighth round of commercial coal mines auction, which will be launched on Wednesday, the government said on Monday. Pursuant to the launch of the first tranche of commercial coal mine auction by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in June 2020, a total of 91 coal mines in seven tranches have been put on sale. "A total of 35 coal mines will be offered in the upcoming round comprising 11 under the Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Act, 2015 and 24 under the MMDR Act 1957... Additionally, four coal mines are being offered under the second attempt of round seven of commercial coal auction," the coal ministry said in a statement. The launch of the eighth round of commercial coal mining auctions is a significant step towards promoting private sector participation in the coal mining industry and increasing coal production, it said. "The Ministry of Coal is gearing up for the launch of the eighth round of auctions for commercial coal mines on November 1

Coal India identifies 20 abandoned mines for pump storage projects

The government on Friday said more than 20 abandoned mines have been identified by state-owned CIL for evaluation and feasibility study for pump storage projects. The information was shared by Coal India Ltd (CIL) during a diversification review meeting held by Coal Secretary Amrit Lal Meena. State-owned NLCIL has also taken up a feasibility study on pump storage projects, the coal ministry said in a statement. Pumped storage power plants use gravity to generate electricity using water that has previously been pumped from a reservoir in the pit into an upper reservoir. During periods of low demand, the water is pumped into the higher reservoir. When demand is high, the water is released to drive a turbine in a powerhouse and feed electricity into the grid. Over 200 de-coaled mines with huge land area are available in coal producing areas. Many of these mines are feasible for pump storage projects. Further, direction has been given for stakeholders consultation with agencies who m

Rahul interacts with coal mines workers, voices concern over privatisation

Voicing concern over "privatisation of mines", Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday alleged that it was a violation of labour laws and it meant pushing the workers into "bonded" labour, as he shared a video of his recent interaction with workers of the Singareni Coal Mines in Telangana. In the video shared by Gandhi on his YouTube channel, he tells the workers that the Congress stand is very clear that there should be no privatisation is strategic sectors. "A few days ago, I got a chance to meet and talk to the workers and employees of the coal mines of Singareni. Listened to their problems, and after listening I came to know that the root of every problem is the privatisation of mines," he said in his post along with the video. "This privatisation is a violation of labour laws and is a means of pushing workers into bonded labour. Some capitalists will benefit from this and the result will be what I have been saying for a long time - the rich will get richer, and the poor will

7th round of commercial coal mine auction: Centre sign pacts with 6 bidders

The Centre on Friday entered into pacts with six bidders, including Hindalco Industries and NLC India Ltd, which bagged coal blocks under the seventh round of coal mines auction. The government had launched the seventh round of auctions for commercial mining of coal blocks, putting 106 mines under the hammer. In a statement, the coal ministry said that successful bidders encompass entities such Hindalco Industries Ltd, NTPC Mining Ltd, NLC India Ltd, Shri Bajrang Power & Ispat Limited and Nilkanth Mining Ltd. The mines for which these agreements have been executed are Meenakshi West, North Dhadu (Eastern Part), North Dhadu (Western Part), Pathora East, Pathora West and Sherband. Of the said blocks, four have undergone partial exploration and the other two are fully explored. The estimated total revenue generation annually from these blocks stands at approximately Rs 787.59 crore, based on production at an aggregated peak rate capacity (PRC) level of seven metric tonne per annum .

Sustainable utilisation of coal mine water by PSUs benefits 1.77 mn people

The government on Wednesday said the sustainable utilisation of mine water resources by public sector companies under the coal ministry has benefitted 17.7 lakh people across 981 villages of nine states. In the course of coal mining operations, a substantial volume of mine water accumulates in mine sumps. This stored mine water serves a range of community purposes, including domestic and drinking water supply, irrigation of agricultural fields, groundwater replenishment, and various industrial applications like dust suppression and heavy machinery washing. "During the fiscal 2022-23, CPSEs (Central Public Sector Enterprises) discharged approximately 8,130 Lakh m3 of mine water, with 46 per cent allocated for community uses such as domestic and irrigation purposes, 49 per cent for internal domestic and industrial needs, and six per cent reserved for groundwater recharge initiatives," the coal ministry said in a statement. To ensure the suitability of mine water for drinking and ...

Govt aims to control surface fire at 19 coal mines in Jharia by 2025-end

The government is aiming to control surface fire at 27 locations of 19 coal mines in Jharia, Jharkhand, by 2025-end, Parliament was informed on Wednesday. Some coal mines of Jharia in Jharkhand have been burning for many years due to unscientific mining prior to the nationalisation of coal mines, Coal and Mines Minister Pralhad Joshi said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha. As per the Jharia Master Plan approved in 2009, it was estimated that about 37 MT of good quality prime coking coal has been destroyed due to fire, the minister noted. Coal India subsidiary Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL) is periodically conducting surveys through National Remote Sensing Center (NRSC) Hyderabad for delineation of surface fire. As per the latest survey report done in the year 2020-21, the surface fire area has been reduced to 1.8 sq km spread over 27 locations, he said. "Out of these 27 locations, fire at 16 locations is being dealt with by operating fire dealing projects through excavation an