The Hindu Business Line : CIL to invest Rs 2,500 cr for setting up coal washeries

NEW DELHI: Coal India Ltd (CIL) will invest Rs 2,500 crore for setting up 20 new coal washeries by 2017 to improve the quality of coal, the Rajya Sabha was informed on Monday.

Replying to supplementaries during question hour, the Coal Minister, Mr Sriprakash Jaiswal, said Coal India will set up 4-5 coal washeries during the current Five Year Plan (2007-12) and the remaining in the next Plan.

The coal found in India is of poor quality with high ash component. It needs to be washed to improve its quality for use in sectors like power and cement.

The 20 new coal washeries would have a capacity of 111.1 million tonnes per annum. These include seven coking coal washeries with a capacity of 21.1 mt per annum at an estimated investment of about Rs 775 crore and 14 non-coking coal washeries with 90 mt per annum capacity at an estimated investment of about Rs 1,725 crore.

The additional capacity is expected to help improve the quality of coal and availability of washed coking coal from the current 3.68 mt to about 9 mt.

Besides, the availability of washed non-coking coal would increase from 11.28 mt to about 74 mt.

On the issue of illegal coal mining, the Minister said checking illegal mining was up to the State Governments as law and order is a State subject.

He said coal companies were doing their best but more effective steps can be taken if police support is available. — PTI

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