Russia may supply coal mining gear

Deal to be finalised during putin's visit in december

India is likely to buy long-wall equipment for coal mining from Russia. The deal is expected to be finalised during Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit next month. The president is expected to be in New Delhi on December 3.

Officials said the equipment would be used for the Jhanjara underground mine in the Raniganj coalfield area in West Bengal. Coal India Ltd's subsidiary Eastern Coalfields Ltd (ECL) is the owner of these mines.

The use of this equipment allows using of long-wall technology which basically involves removal of the whole seam leading to a fall in the roof as work progresses.

The Sancotoria (West Bengal)-based ECL is banking on the introduction of high capacity long-wall powered support equipment for improving coal production, said an official. The company which is loss-making wants to increase coal production to 31 million tonne per annum (mtpa) during the next two to three years from 28 mtpa in 2003-04.

The Raniganj coalfields produce non-coking coal with an ash percentage of less than 20 per cent. It is used in intensive heat industries like glass and ceramics. Most coal exports originate from these coalfields.

ECL has a total command area of 1,620 square kilometre (sq km) spread across West Bengal and Jharkhand. The Raniganj coalfields are spread across 1,530 sq km and cover districts of Burdwan, Birbhum, Bankura and Purulia in West Bengal and Dhanbad in Jharkhand. Besides, there are the Hura coalfields in the Godda district of Jharkhand spread across 80 sq km.