India needs underground technology
Indian needs new technology to improve efficiency and safety in coal mining while relooking at the high cost of underground extraction, a senior government official has said.
In order to achieve the government’s ambitious plan of producing one billion tonnes of coal a year by Fiscal Year 2020, new technology is required to improve efficiency and safety, Coal Secretary, Anil Swarup, said.
Underground mining in India is important from environment perspective but it is also important to understand that “why it didn’t happen” till now, Swarup told delegates at the “8th India Coal Summit” held in New Delhi on June 22, 2016.
He noted underground coal mining cost was three to four times expensive and called on the industry for suggestions for addressing problems associated with the sector.
There is no shortage of coal but supply will be through the process of auctioning, he stressed.
Logistics issues were being taken care by the coal and railway ministries, he added.
“The evacuation of coal is primary focus now. Various railway lines and linkages have been constructed and will soon be in operation,” assured Swarup.
But he also noted that market situation of recent times is not conducive for commercial mining.
S K Roongta, Chairman, Indian Chamber of Commerce Expert committee supported the minister’s call, underlining the importance of adopting new technology to replace the old plants.
India needs Rs10 lakh thousand crore investment to realize the production of one billion tonnes of coal a year, estimated Pukhraj Sethiya, Associate Director, Mining and Metal, PriceWaterhouseCooper.
Coal India Limited, the national coal producer responsible for more than 80 per cent of the country’s current production, has revised its current expectations downward to about 900 million tonnes by FY2020 in face of its current technology restrictions and market environment. fii-news.com
