Coal India subsidiary Eastern Coalfields Ltd is aiming a production of 9-10 million tonnes from underground mining in the next four years for an investment of Rs 1,000-1,100 crore.

In order to achieve the production target of 9-10 million tonnes from the current level of 7 million tonnes, ECL said it hopes longwall mining technology rollout at its Janjra mine in the current fiscal will play an important role.

“Over the next four years we expect the UG coal production to go up to 9-10 million tonnes per annum. Capex estimate is around Rs 1,000-1,100 crore,” ECL GM and technical secretary to CMD Niladri Roy told PTI.

The open cast mines of ECL generate 30 million tonnes of coal per annum.

He said the contract for important longwall mining package had already been placed and fabrication work is on.

“We hope the same will be implemented by year-end.

Longwall project that would cost Rs 350-400 crore will help double the UG coal production to three million tonnes at Jhanjra mine,” Roy said.

Longwall project had been awarded to CODCO of China on risk-gain sharing basis and will achieve peak production of 1.70 million tonnes per year.

Five continuous mining equipment will be added in phases at an estimated cost of Rs 700 crore. Currently, three continuous mining equipment have been implemented in the UG mines of ECL.

The major modernisation of UG mining is a part of the revival plan of Eastern Coalfields Limited that was cleared by CCEA in 2006.

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