india

Hopefully we here something back from India soon.

The government is pushing the use of coal to meet its huge and ever expanding power needs. Plenty of money to be made here for CGV.


http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=68748

The year 2010 was significant in the area of coal production, a number of significant steps taken up in the sector which include competitive bidding of coal blocks, expansion of coal production capacity, offering of 10 per cent share of Coal India Ltd. to the public and highest ever lignite production.

With a view to bringing in greater transparency and demonstrable objectively in the allocation of coal and lignite blocks for captive mining, process of selection through competitive bidding initiated during the year. Accordingly, the Mines and Minerals (Development & Regulation) Act, 1957 was amended and enacted in September 2010. The Amendment provides for grant of reconnaissance permit, prospecting licence or mining lease in respect of an area containing coal and lignite through auction by competitive bidding. The Government is now examining the modalities for preparation of the guidelines/legal framework for conducting the competitive bidding of coal and lignite blocks.

More coal for power generation



Coal Gasification

Coal Gasification had been notified as one of the end uses under captive mining policy to facilitate the allotment of coal blocks to potential entrepreneurs. 5 lignite blocks and 2 coal blocks have been identified so far for Underground Coal Gasification (UCG) purpose. Guidelines have been issued on for carrying out commercial exploitation of underground Coal Gasification.

Some other significant decisions taken during the year include-

? Guidelines for Mine Closure were issued to take care of all environmental parameters.

? Expansion of coal production capacity of Rajmahal OC Project of ECL from 10.5 Mty to 17.0 Mty with an incremental capital investment of Rs.153.82 crore has been sanctioned.

? RCE of Adriyala Shaft Project of SCCL for a coal production capacity of 2.81 Mty and an overall outlay of Rs.846.06 crore and a net capital investment of Rs.779.26 crore has been approved.

? RCE of NLC?s Barsingsar Mine of 2.10 mtpa capacity of lignite and Barsingsar thermal Power Station of 2 x 125 MW capacity at Barsingsar at a capital cost of Rs.1800.69 crores has been approved.

? 37 Mining Plans of various Coal Blocks (captive as well as non-captive) have been approved.