HYDERABAD

The State Government has initiated a comprehensive plan for the development of nine new coal mines for Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) with the objective of ensuring long-term operational sustainability and energy security.

The initiative is intended to offset production losses arising from the phased closure of existing mines due to depletion of reserves, ensure continuity of employment for the workforce and meet the growing energy demand of the State. The State public sector coal company has been told to expedite all preparatory activities and obtain necessary statutory approvals at the earliest.

In line with the instructions from the State Government, the SCCL has prepared detailed proposals for nine projects (mines) and submitted them to the Centre - Ministry of Coal and Ministry of Forest and Environment for necessary clearances.

The company officials stated that approvals have already been secured for 3 projects and coal production has commenced at the Naini Block in Odisha following coordination with the Government of Odisha. The VK Coal Mine in Kothagudem has also completed major statutory formalities and is ready for commencement of production.

Towards medium to long-term production sustainability at least for the next 20 years, the company management is planning to operate new mines with higher quality of coal and higher production. By 2027-28, four more mines in SCCL are expected to cease operations leading to an estimated reduction of 12.51 million tonnes in annual coal production. The proposed 9 projects are expected to bridge this gap and ensure uninterrupted coal supply to the customers for the next two decades.

The projects include development of new open-cast mines, extensions of existing operations and extraction of residual coal reserves from previously closed underground mines.

According to the officials, the proposed projects and estimated coal reserves under the State Government initiative include VK Coal Mine (Kothagudem Area) with estimated coal reserves of 190 million tonnes, JK Open Cast Mine (Yellandu Area) – 19.68 MT, Ramagundam OC-1 Expansion Project (181.60 MT), Goleti Open Cast Mine (Bellampalli Area) 38.98 MT, MVK Open Cast Project 30.34 MT, Manuguru Open Cast Extension 40.45 MT, RKP OCP Phase-2 (Mandamarri Area) 34.42 MT and PK Coal Mine, Kondapur (Manuguru Area) 62 MT.

The VK Coal Mine has already received most of the required statutory approvals and the overburden removal activity has already commenced there. The project is expected to begin coal production soon.

Chairman and Managing Director of the company Buddhaprakash Jyoti on Saturday reviewed progress of the proposed projects. He asked officials to expedite pending statutory approvals and take necessary steps to ensure commencement of production from at least three projects this financial year itself.