GMDC commissions Tadkeshwer lignite mines

The Gujarat Mineral Development Corporation (GMDC) has commissioned its Tadkeshwer lignite mines in south Gujarat with 40 million tonne of extractable reserves.

It will soon replace the Rajpardi mines of the company located in the adjoining area. The Rajpardi mines have almost exhausted its reserves and GMDC plans to close it within few weeks.

Sudha Anchlia, CMD, GMDC, said that its customers, who were getting lignite supplies from the Rajpardi mines, will continue to get it from the Tadkeshwer mines. GMDC has just commissioned the first phase of its lignite-based 125 mw power project in Kutch.

It will be commissioning its second phase in March. The company has also acquired necessary permissions to add another 250 mw capacity and will start working on it as soon as the operations of the first two phase stabilise, said Anchlia.

The the total lignite reserves in the Kutch region has been estimated at 213 million tonne.

GMDC is developing more mines in areas adjoining Tadkeshwer in south Gujarat. Its new mine, called G-19 near Tadkeshwer, has an estimated reserve of 12 million tonne, while the nearby Ghala mine has over 50 million tonne of lignite, said Anchlia.

The company has applied to take on lease several other mines in the state, said Anchlia.GMDC's other project in the eastern part of the state is slated to start soon. Anchlia said the company's Kadipani flourspar mine is about to get its lease renewed.

Earlier, mining from the Amba Dungar mine at Kadipani was stopped following the expiry of lease issued by the forest department.

Anchlia said,"The Bhopal office of the forest department has recommended the renewal of the lease now, so we are hopeful of reopening the mine soon." The company has just completed the modernisation of the Kadipani mine.