Addressing the national seminar on ‘Washing of Coal- Opportunities and Challenges’, Meena said that the latest technologies and the opening of new mines will boost coal production efficiently and the numerous ongoing railway projects will help overcome transportation constraints.
Infrastructure developments are being carried out to support the coal industry's growth, he added.
Additional Coal Secretary M Nagaraju said by adopting cutting-edge techniques and methodologies, the coal sector can maximize the yield of high-quality coal, thus contributing to India's energy security and sustainability goals.
Coal India Limited (CIL) Chairman PM Prasad coal washeries play a pivotal role in enhancing the quality of both coking and non-coking coal and ensure a seamless supply of high-quality coal for various sectors.
Setting up additional washeries will be an important step in the coming years to meet the nation's coal requirements while upholding stringent quality standards, he stressed.
Coal washing has the potential to save up to 1 rupee per KWhr in the landing cost of coal for power plants. The country currently operates 20 washeries with a total capacity of 113.6 million tonnes per annum (MTPA), reflecting India's commitment to cleaner and more efficient coal production, stated CEO of MDCWL Ltd H L Sapru.
Dr B Veera Reddy, Director (T) CIL & CMD CCL unveiled Coal Ministry's vision to export coal to neighbouring countries, starting from the next year, which would bolster India's position as a prominent coal supplier in the region.