mantle - bcia member, page-19

Ausie Eagle, also mention of coal dewatering for Neyveli.

They have answered an expression of interest (EOI) as announced by Nelveli in Jan 2013. It's good to see Lignite/brown coal benefication taking off in other regions. It's an EOI to carry out research from what I can gather and could lead to a project down the track -

http://web.nlcindia.com/tender/eoi.pdf

EXPRESSION OF INTEREST FOR RESEARCH PROJECTS

1.0 Neyveli Lignite Corporation Limited, Neyveli invites Expression of Interest (EoI)
for undertaking R&D work under S&T In-house Plan Budget from established
R&D/Scientific Institutes, Academic Institutions; other organizations engaged in
Mining/Thermal Power Stations and allied services/activities. Expression of
Interest is sought for carrying out scientific studies/field studies on the following
topics given in Section 2.0.

ix. Dewatering of lignite

Demand for power is increasing day by day and the availability of lignite is decreasing
continuously, due to advancement/capacity addition of mining and expansion of power
projects. This makes NLC to think of alternate method of conserving the fuel for the
power generation and also for better utilization of lignite. Dewatering of lignite is a
unique process of removing the moisture from Lignite. A process has to be designed to
liberate the moisture and thereby increasing the calorific value of the lignite. It needs a
pilot plant study using Neyveli lignite for its feasibility to establish the process at higher
scale. Adequate expertise with proven process to design a pilot plant scale with advanced
facilities.


xii. Lignite to Liquid

NLC proposes to diversify for better utilization of lignite. The technology for conversion
of Coal to Liquid (Diesel) at commercial scale is available, but for lignite conversion to
liquid, no such technology is available, which needs to be developed. The likely product
5
diesel oil can be used in boilers in Thermal power stations and also for machineries in
mines and transport vehicles. The demand for the internal consumption of diesel and the
cost is in increasing trend. This product will be a substitute to the above requirement. In
addition to Diesel, any other products namely gasoline, Light Naphtha, Heavy Naphtha,
Wax which also can be extracted from Lignite will be useful. Suitable technology has to
be developed for converting Lignite to Diesel. It needs a pilot plant study using Neyveli
lignite for its feasibility to establish the process at higher scale. Adequate expertise with
proven process to design a pilot plant scale with advanced facilities and to carry out trial
runs at CARD is required under BOT conditions for erection and performing operations.

B Rubes