BCCL evaluates tenders for Moonidih coal mines

Kolkata: Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL), a subsidiary of Coal India Limited (CIL) is in the process of evaluating the tenders of two Chinese companies for undertaking longwall mining in seam 16 of Moonidih coal mines in Jharkhand.

Two Chinese companies- Codco China and Zhengzhou Coal Mining Machinery Limited participated in the global tendering process which opened on March 20 this year, AK Paul, chairman and managing director of BCCL told reporters at the company's annual press conference held here.

Earlier, the work of implementation of long wall package in seam 16 of Moonidih mines was awarded to a Ukraine-based company but the deal did not materialise.

BCCL is also exploring the feasibility of deploying low-cost continuous miners at Pootkee-Loyabad.

Plans are also afoot to set up eight washeries in BCCL, each with a capacity of 2.5 million ton (mnt) for washing of non-coking coal at open cast mines and also at HEMM (Heavy Earth Moving Machinery) patches by 2011-12.

Central Mine Planning and Design Institute Limited, a subsidiary of CIL has been requested for selection of sites and preparation of techno-economic feasibility reports for the proposed washeries in various areas of BCCL.

The washeries would be located at non coal bearing areas and there will be space available for dumping washery rejects.

This apart, there would be availability of sufficient water for washery operation and infrastructure like power, approach road and railway link.