Page 4 - Coal Mines

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

BHP expects Indian steel industry's boom to boost its coal business

Around 40% of BHP's metallurgical coal, used by steel mills and known as coking coal, is now heading to India, chief commercial officer Vandita Pant told FT

Coal mining bet stumbles as wary banks weigh rising risks: Official

Coal officials and banking executives in the world's second-largest coal producer discussed the issue at a June meeting called by the government in a bid to ease the funding deadlock

SECL to develop Manikpur Pokhri coal mine in Korba into eco-tourism spot

The South Eastern Coalfields Ltd (SECL), a subsidiary of Coal India, has decided to develop its closed Manikpur Pokhri open-cast coal mine in Chhattisgarh's Korba district as an eco-tourism spot, a company official said on Sunday. This will be the second such project in the state after a similar mine in neighbouring Surajpur district was developed into a tourist spot. The SECL along with Municipal Corporation Korba will spend more than Rs 11 crores to develop Manikpur Pokhari mine into an eco-tourism destination and the company has already released Rs 5.60 crore to Korba Collector for the purpose, SECL spokesperson Sanish Chandra said. Mining in Manikpur Pokhri, one of the first mines in Korba district, started in 1966 with Russian technical consultation. About 24 years later, during the excavation, groundwater source was discovered there and the inflow of water was so much that it could not be drained out even with the help of motor pumps etc. and finally the mine had to be closed,

From EMIL to JSW Steel, leading players surrender commercial coal blocks

The Government of Chhattisgarh is reportedly not providing the mining leases to the coal block owners for mines in the state

Coal Ministry receives 35 bids under 7th tranche of coal mines auction

The coal ministry on Tuesday said it has received 35 bids under the seventh round of auctions of commercial coal mines. This round of auction was started by the ministry for 103 mines on March 29, 2023. The last date for submission of bids was June 27. According to the ministry, a total of 35 offline bids have been received for 18 coal mines and two or more bids have been received for seven mines. The online bids received as part of the auction process will be opened on June 28.

3 dead, many feared trapped in illegal coal mine collapse in Dhanbad

The coal mine collapsed at 10:30 am when local villagers were engaged in mining; the exact number of people killed or trapped is still unknown, says DSP Abhishek Kuma

Expansion plan for one of world's biggest coal mines challenged in India

Protests against plans for the Gevra site in the eastern province of Chhattisgarh threaten to complicate Coal India Ltd's ability to win approvals to expand annual capacity to 70 million tons

790 million tonnes and rising: Big & small MDOs help meet coal demand

Rising electricity demand is pushing for more coal mining as thermal power continues to be the backbone of supply

Govt to launch seventh round of commercial auctions on Wednesday

The government will put on the block 106 coal mines on Wednesday, launching the seventh round of commercial auctions, an official statement said. In the statement, the coal ministry said it will also be signing the agreements for the 28 coal mines auctioned under the sixth round of auctions, it said. "The Ministry of Coal will be signing the agreements for 28 coal mines auctioned under the sixth round and launching the seventh round of auction of mines for sale of coal on March 29, 2023," the statement said. The cumulative PRC (peak rated capacity) of the 28 coal mines auctioned under previous round is 74 million tonne per annum (MTPA) and these mines are expected to generate annual revenue of Rs 14,497 crore calculated at PRC of these coal mines. Upon operationalisation, these mines are expected to generate employment for one lakh people, the ministry said. Of the 106 coal mines offered under seventh round, 61 mines are partially explored coal mines and 45 are fully explored ones.

Govt to auction 27 more coal mines starting February 27

The coal ministry on Wednesday said that 27 coal mines would be put on sale in the next round of commercial mines auction starting from February 27. The auction process for 141 coal and lignite mines was launched by the coal ministry in November last year. "After completion of technical evaluation, 27 coal mines which received more than one bid, will be put up for forward auction from Monday, February 27, 2023 onwards," the ministry said in a statement. In a bid to familiarise bidders with the auction process, mock e-auction will be conducted on February 24. According to the statement, the ministry launched the 6th round and 2nd attempt of 5th round of commercial coal mines auctions on November 3, 2022, which received unprecedented response from industry. "96 bids were received for 36 coal mines, including participation from many first time bidders, reflecting the enthusiasm among the bidders and the positive sentiment about coal mining sector," it added.

2023 could be another strong yr for coal as demand may reach record levels

Coal India, companies with captive coal mines in steel, power and other sectors will be at an advantage

Govt extends bidding deadline for commercial coal mines auction till Jan 13

The government on Monday said that it has extended the deadline to submit bids for the coal blocks under sixth round of commercial mine auction till January 13. The biggest tranche of 141 mines covering eleven coal-bearing states are being offered in the sixth round of commercial coal mine auction. "In response to... requests from prospective bidders, the ministry has extended the bid due date till January 13, 2023," the coal ministry said in a statement. The earlier due date for submission of online and offline bids was December 30. The coal ministry had recently organised investor's conclaves in Mumbai, Bengaluru and Indore, for which tremendous response was received. Several pleas for extension of bid due date were received during conclaves and also in writing at the office of the nominated authority, ministry of coal. The coal ministry had launched the process for auction of 133 coal mines under sixth round of commercial auctions, of which 71 are new coal mines and 62 blocks

Allocation of all coal mines done through open auction, says Kishan Reddy

Union Minister G Kishan Reddy refuted Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao's allegations and said that the Centre has given coal mines not as per its wish but through an open auction

Coal pensioners protest in capital, demand review of pension scheme

Agitators seek dearness relief as scheme component to ensure equitable pension; want adherence to provisions of CMPS 1998 on review and revision of pension every three years

Centre 'modifies' 62 unsold coal mines to make them attractive for buyers

Out of the 141 coal blocks which the Centre has put up for commercial auction, 62 mines are old which had gone unsold during previous attempts; hence they have been modified

India considers selling small stakes in its mammoth coal, zinc miners

The government is looking to sell 5%-10% in Coal India Ltd, Hindustan Zinc Ltd, Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilizers Ltd via the so-called offer-for-sale mechanism

NMDC in talks to invest in lithium exploration companies in Australia

Investment would be voa NMDC's Perth-based arm, Legacy Iron Ore, which is already prospecting for iron ore, gold and base metals there

How govt's tight control is slicing away Coal India's creamy layers

Larger shares of the state-owned miner's production are sold significantly below global benchmark prices, deterring global investors from participating in divestment plans

South Eastern Coalfields tops in coal output among CIL subsidiaries

South Eastern Coalfields (SECL), the highest coal-producing company among the eight entities of CIL over the years, was outshined by Odisha-based Mahanadi Coalfields (MCL) in FY22