Indian Mining Poised to Boom

Proving its Mettle

Mala Kumar Engineers is a mining star with a fleet of crawler excavators and rock breaker from Volvo CE. A Delhi-based contract mining services provider, Mala Kumar Engineers Pvt Ltd (MKEPL)

Mining Growth

India is on track to overtake the US as the second-largest coal consumer after China this decade. India wants to more than double coal output to 1.5 billion tonne by 2020. The central government has already taken specific actions including e-auctions of coal blocks; 28 blocks are already allocated and more blocks to be e-auctioned soon.

Coal Ministry to take up restructuring of Coal India Ltd

The coal ministry has prepared action plan for restructuring of state-owned Coal India Ltd (CIL). This is to improve overall operational efficiency of the company. CIL has seven subsidiaries. The company has missed the coal production targets in 2013-14. While considering the restructuring issue, the government is likely to increase the delegation of powers to all the CIL subsidiaries.

Coal India to develop coal bed methane reserves

Union Minister of State for Coal Pratik PrakashBapu Patil has said that Coal India (CIL) is pursuing development of coal mine methane (CMM) from its mining areas as it would be beneficial on mine safety as well as environment. Ministry of Coal has made CMPDI, the Nodal Agency for development of coal mine methane in India. At Moonidih mine of Bharat Coking Coal (BCCL), CIL/CMPDI has successfully implemented a CMM demonstration project, which is funded by the Union government.

Govt promotes research in coal, lignite sectors

Minister of State for Coal, Pratik PrakashBapu Patil informed Rajya Sabha that the Indian government was promoting R&D activities in coal & lignite sectors for improving efficiency and efficacy of coal. Central Mine Planning and Design Institute (CMPDI) is responsible for R&D activities in coal & lignite sectors, the minister said

Govt to hire consultant to restructure Coal India

Government is in the process of hiring an external consultant to advise on the restructuring of Coal India (CIL) for a long term sustainability roadmap. The government is learnt to have shortlisted nine consultants for the purpose. Meanwhile, agency reports quoted Coal Minister Prakash Jaiswal as saying that he was not in favour of splitting the state-run CIL. The minister has reportedly said

Capital infusion helps BCCL shore up networth

Recently, the networth of the country's largest coking coal producer Bharat Coking Coal (BCCL) turned positive after several years following the fund infusion by Coal India (CIL). BCCL's net worth is learnt to have been exhausted by accumulated losses of about Rs 5,600 crore till March

SAIL ropes in Lanco Infra to develop Tasra coal block

Lanco Infratech has been roped in by the Steel Authority of India (SAIL) to develop Tasra coal block, which was given to the latter by Bharat Coking Coal in 1996. While Lanco, Adani and some smaller players bid for the project, SAIL found Lanco to be technically and commercially fit for the contract