The Hindu Business Line : Coal India mining to be fully mechanised by 2017

COAL India Ltd (CIL) has plans to convert the present mix of manual, semi-manual and mechanised underground (UG) mining in favour of 100 per cent mechanised mines by 2017.

The current available methods - long-wall and board & pillar (B&P) - will continue to be used with the limited application of other methods, such as blasting gallery. Since around 124 million tonnes of production from UG mines can be achieved within a depth of 300 metres (other than Jharia and Raniganj coalfields), the thrust method may remain along with a higher degree of mechanisation such as continuous-miner technology in conjunction with mechanised drilling and roof bolting system.

However, the use of long-wall technology will continue as a mass production technology wherever geo-mining conditions permit.

Highlighting the technology upgradation programme, the Director (Technical) of CIL, Mr Lakshman Jha, has said there are a total of 305 UG mines currently being operated by CIL with a combined annual production of 47.4 mt.

It was pointed out that about 31 per cent (96 in number) of the total UG mines were mechanised, while 131 mines had exclusively manual workings and the remaining 78 mines were mixed mines (manual-cum-mechanised).

Mr Jha said of the total 209 UG mines, comprising manual and mixed ones, about 110 mines were feasible for mechanisation/modernisation, and 82 of such feasible mines had been proposed to be mechanised/modernised during the Tenth Plan. The remaining 28 would be mechanised in the subsequent five-year Plans.

Based on the assessment of mines and coal blocks of proven geological reserve, CIL's production from UG mines would be about 124 mt by 2025 against production of about 47 mt in 2004-05 from 305 mines. This target could be achieved by enhancing production from the existing UG mines as well as by developing new blocks, Mr Jha said.

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