TFP Bureau, Raipur, June 15, 2025: In a significant step toward sustainable mining, the Parsa East and Kanta Basan (PEKB) coal mine in Chhattisgarh’s Surguja district has become the first coal mine in the state to operate on solar power. The mine, operated by Rajasthan Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Ltd (RRVUNL), now hosts a 9-megawatt solar power plant, marking a landmark development in integrating renewable energy into coal mining operations.
The solar facility, developed by Mundra Solar PV Limited—a subsidiary of Adani Green Energy Ltd—was formally commissioned on Friday. BJP MLA from Ambikapur, Shri Rajesh Agrawal, inaugurated the plant by switching on the panel board at the mine site.
Spread across 30 acres of reclaimed land within the PEKB mine premises, the solar plant is expected to reduce around 400,000 tonnes of carbon emissions over the next 25 years—an environmental benefit equivalent to planting 2.5 million trees. The project highlights the Adani Group’s long-term commitment to sustainable energy practices and environmentally responsible mining operations.
Awarded to Adani Enterprises by the Rajasthan government through a competitive bidding process, the PEKB mine is situated in the Udaipur block and plays a crucial role in supplying coal for power generation to nearly 80 million people in Rajasthan.
Beyond environmental gains, the project has contributed significantly to local development. Over 1.568 million trees have already been planted in the region, and more than 1,000 children are receiving free English-medium education through schools run under the project’s CSR initiatives.
The solar-powered shift at PEKB stands as a model for balancing energy needs with environmental stewardship and is poised to inspire similar transitions across India’s coal mining sector.
