Singareni Collieries Company Ltd (SCCL) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Central Institute of Mining and Fuel Research at Dhanbad to avail itself of technical expertise.
The understanding is likely to result in collaboration to execute the Adriyala Longwall Project in SCCL with the benefits of safe coal production.
Sutirtha Bhattacharya, Chairman and Managing Director of Singareni Collieries, Rahul Guha, Director-General of Mines Safety, and Amalendu Sinha, Director, CIMFR, were present at the event.
The Central lab does research on the entire coal energy chain from pre-mining to post consumption. Bhattacharya said: “We would also get scientific studies done under the MoU. We are also planning to associate with other important research institutes”.
Work at the Adriyala mine is expected to begin by the end of the year. It requires expertise in the execution of longwall equipment.
Singareni Collieries has 49 operational mines with 34 underground and the rest opencast. During 2012-12, it produced 52.16 million tonnes with a mix of 78 per cent from open cast and the balance from underground.
The company is the only coal producing unit in South India, with about 9.6 per cent of the national coal production with about 8 per cent reserve base, a press release said.
Somasekhar.m@thehindu.co.in