Lignite

The country has for the first time crossed the milestone of 1 billion tonnes of coal and lignite production in the financial year 2023-24, Union Coal and Mines Minister Pralhad Joshi said on Monday. India's total coal and lignite output was at 937 million tonnes (MT) in the preceding 2022-23 fiscal, as per official figures. "Proud to share that under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi, we have registered a stellar achievement by crossing 1 billion tonne (BT) coal and lignite production," Joshi said. It is a historic moment for India as the country has achieved the highest-ever production, and it will go a long way in ensuring energy security to the nation. The continuous efforts to increase domestic coal production has ensured that going forward the country will never have to face coal shortage, the minister said. Joshi further said, "I thank the officials of the sector, all the coal warriors and private miners for their grit and hard work in helping achieve mission-1BT. Owing to y

India's mineral output increased by 5.1 per cent in December as compared to the year-ago period, the government said on Thursday. The index of mineral production of mining and quarrying sector for the month of December, 2023 at 139.4 is 5.1 per cent higher as compared to the level witnessed in the corresponding month of 2022, the mines ministry said in a statement. The cumulative growth rate in the mining and quarrying sector for the April-December period of the current fiscal over the corresponding period of previous financial year is 8.5 per cent, as per the provisional statistics of Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM). In December, the production of coal stood at 929 lakh tonnes while that of lignite at 40 lakh tonnes, iron ore at 255 lakh tonnes and limestone at 372 lakh tonnes. Production of lignite, limestone, coal, bauxite and natural gas showed positive growth. However, a negative growth was registered in the production of petroleum (crude), gold, chromite, phosphorite and ...

State-owned GMDC on Monday said that it has received a green nod to expand the capacity of its Surkha lignite mine in Gujarat. The environment clearance was accorded by the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MOEFCC) for expanding the capacity of Surkha (N) lignite mine from 3 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) to 5 MTPA. This expansion not only signifies increased production but also aligns with Gujarat Mineral Development Corporation's (GMDC) commitment to sustainability and responsible resource utilisation, the company said in a statement. "The approval of environmental clearance for the capacity expansion of Surkha (N) lignite mine is a pivotal moment for GMDC. This project's success is integral to our overall growth and revenue generation perspective," the company's Managing Director Roopwant Singh said. The enhanced lignite production capacity is likely to drive substantial revenue growth for GMDC, the statement added. "The expansion of lignite production ...

The lignite-to-methanol project of NLC India Ltd, estimated at Rs 4,394 crore, at Neyveli, in Tamil Nadu is likely to be completed by March, 2027. The project is part of NLC's diversification plan. NLC has traditionally been into lignite mining and setting up lignite-based power plants. "The project is expected to complete by March-2027," the company said in a regulatory filing. The proposed lignite-to-methanol plant is in line with the Centre's coal gasification plan, a sustainable way of utilising the fuel to meet its ambitious net-zero plans. "The total period of the project is 42 months from the date of Letter of Award (LOA)," it added. In October last year, NLC had floated a global tender for awarding the project through project management consultancy Engineers India Limited (EIL) for gasification block (LEPC-1) of its Lignite-to-Methanol project at Neyveli, in Tamil Nadu.

The government on Wednesday approved the continuation of the central sector plan 'Exploration of Coal and Lignite scheme' with an estimated expenditure of Rs 2,980 crore. The time period for the extension is from 2021-22 to 2025-26 co-terminus with the 15th Finance Commission cycle, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) said in a statement. "The CCEA chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved the continuation of the Central Sector Scheme of "Exploration of Coal and Lignite scheme" with an estimated expenditure of Rs 2,980 crore from 2021-22 to 2025-26 co-terminus with the 15th Finance Commission cycle," it said. Under this scheme, exploration for coal and lignite is conducted in two broad stages: (i) Promotional (Regional) Exploration and (ii) Detailed Exploration in non-Coal India Limited blocks. The approval will provide an outlay of Rs 1,650 crore for promotional (Regional) exploration and Rs 1,330 crore for detailed drilling in non-CIL areas, the statement ...

Projects of 5.86 GW out of the total 210.6 GW coal and lignite based thermal power generation capacities in the country are non-operational, Parliament was informed on Thursday. "Out of 210.6 GW (coal and lignite based) monitored capacity of thermal power plants, 5.86 GW capacity is non-operational due to various reasons such as no Power Purchase Agreement (PPA), under National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) etc," Power Minister R K Singh said in a written reply to Lok Sabha. The minster also told the House that out of 5.86 GW (gigawatt) non-operational plants, one plant namely Bela Thermal Power Station (270 MW) was revived on October 2, 2022. In another reply to the House, Singh said the weighted average rate of sale of power came down to Rs 3.40 per unit in 2020-21 from Rs 3.95 in 2019-20 and Rs 3.65 per unit in 2018-19. Similarly, the average price of hydro power came down to Rs 2.64 per unit in 2020-21 from Rs 2.71 in 2019-20 and Rs 2.64 per unit in 2018-19. The average price of

State-owned Gujarat Mineral Development Corporation (GMDC) on Thursday said it is augmenting lignite output by further 1.5 million tonnes this year. The development assumes significance as the PSU is targetting to build up its lignite production in a bid to support Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) eyeing for cheaper fuel. GMDC Managing Director Roopwant Singh said that its customer base among MSMEs in textiles, chemicals, and ceramics along with captive power plants is increasing. Hence, the company is increasing its lignite production this year. "This will help us minimising the constantly increasing demand-supply gap and catering the energy requirements in the state," he said. The PSU has invited bids for its Surkha (N) mine in Bhavnagar from lignite mining contractors. The company produced 8.5 million tonnes of lignite last year and plans to increase it to 10 million tonnes this year. "The RFP for lignite Mining at Surkha (N), Bhavnagar, includes two packages with a

Company says 10 million tonnes production this year, sees gaining business from small businesses

The mining company has roped in the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) for its strategic transformation, apart from McKinsey & Co. for the development of REE assets

The Ministry of Coal on Wednesday said it has put on auction 122 coal and lignite mines under the commercial auction process. Addressing the fifth tranche of auction launch, Union Minister of Coal, Mines and Parliamentary Affairs Pralhad Joshi said 42 coal mines have already been auctioned successfully so far. In a statement, the ministry said it "has placed on offer 122 coal/lignite mines today under commercial auction of coal mines, including 18 new coal mines." Sharing the details of mines under different tranches for auction, it said there are 109 coal mines under 15th Tranche of Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Act, 2015 and 5th Tranche of Mines and Minerals (Development & Regulation) Act, 1957. Of the 109 mines on offer, 59 are fully explored mines and 50 are partially explored mines. Four coal mines are under second attempt of 14th Tranche of Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Act, 2015 and Second Attempt of 4th Tranche of Mines and Minerals (Development & ...

Coal secretary A K Jain briefed the committee about creation of a Sustainable Development Cell (SDC) in the ministry to advise, mentor, plan and monitor environmental sustainability of coal mines

The Union government has accepted Gujarat's proposal to reserve about 100 million tonnes lignite for state mining major Gujarat Mineral Development Corporation (GMDC). The stock, whose market price is estimated to be around Rs 10,000 crore, will be reserved from Valia lignite mine in Bharuch district of the state. "We proposed to the Centre to reserve lignite to meet the demand of the state and it has been accepted. GMDC will get about 80 to 100 million tonnes of lignite. Because of this decision, industries will get lignite at reasonable rates and supply time will also reduce," said Saurabh Patel, energy minister of Gujarat.About 2,900 million tonnes of lignite stock is available in Bharuch, Surat, Kutch and Bhavnagar districts of Gujarat and state produces about 10-11 million tonnes every year from these mines. Industries such as ceramic, bricks manufacturers, textile and chemical industry use lignite in Gujarat. GMDC also supplies lignite to Akarimota Lignite Power plant and ...