SECL Joins Hands with Adani Group’s Pelma Collieries to Propel Opencast Coal Mining in Chhattisgarh
Officials from both the companies after signing the MOU's
TFP Bureau,Bilaspur, August 24, 2023: In a landmark development, South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL) has inked a historic pact with Pelma Collieries, an entity within the Adani group, to operationalize the Pelma opencast mine nestled in the Raigarh region. This agreement, forged under the innovative Mine, Developer and Operator (MDO) model, signifies a significant stride towards collaborative efforts between government and private enterprises to cater to the nation’s energy demands.
The Pelma mine’s distinction lies in being Chhattisgarh’s pioneer opencast mine under the umbrella of Coal India Limited’s arm, functioning within the ambit of the MDO paradigm. Under the terms of this comprehensive accord, Pelma Collieries will steward the mine’s operations for the ensuing two decades. This responsibility encompasses a spectrum of activities, ranging from project design, financial requisites, procurement, construction, to the operation and maintenance facets.
Projected to yield a colossal coal output surpassing 219 million tonnes over the stipulated span of two decades, the mine is poised to contribute significantly to the national coal production landscape. This voluminous goal is underscored by an annual target of 15 million tonnes of premium G-12 grade coal extraction.
The MDO mode, a pioneering approach to mine management, embodies a synergistic alliance between governmental entities and private corporations, facilitating the nation’s energy goals. This initiative bears monumental significance, as it bolsters SECL’s coal production capacity and plays a pivotal role in striving towards the ambitious 1 billion tonne coal production milestone set by Coal India.
SECL has exhibited its prowess in resuscitating defunct mines through the MDO model. The Ketki UG of Bishrampur region etched its name as the first Indian coal mine to churn out coal within this novel framework. Additionally, the Letter of Award has been issued for operating the Kalyani UG Mine of Bhatgaon region on the MDO-revenue sharing model. These strides complement SECL’s broader goal of initiating various projects under the MDO framework.
The Raigarh area of SECL holds strategic importance due to its substantial coal reserves, positioning it as a linchpin in the organization’s future production endeavors. With a staggering estimated coal reserve of around 1900 million tonnes, the region stands as the nation’s third-largest coalfield. Notably, SECL is concurrently developing a rail corridor in this locale to expedite coal evacuation processes.
Key dignitaries, including G Srinivasan (Director – Finance), S N Kapri (Director – Projects/Planning), Debasis Acharyya (Director – Personnel) from SECL, and Laxman Singh Shekhawat (COO, Adani Natural Resources), Ajay Gupta (Director, Pelma Collieries) from the Adani Group, were pivotal participants in this momentous accord’s ceremonial signing.
