SCCL's Odisha Coal Mine Nears Production Start.

The Naini Coal Mine in Odisha, allocated to Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) on August 13, 2015, is set to commence production within the next three months. With an estimated annual production capacity of 10 million tonnes, the mine is expected to produce five million tonnes upon starting operations.

Initially allocated for captive utilization in SCCL's thermal power plant, the Naini Coal Mine faced significant delays due to bureaucratic hurdles, particularly in handing over forest land even after receiving Stage-II forest clearance in October 2022.

Union Minister of Coal and Mines G Kishan Reddy, upon taking charge, engaged in extensive discussions with the Odisha Government to resolve the issues and operationalize the mine. As a result, SCCL received approval for the handover of 643 hectares of forest land on July 4, as per an official release.

Despite receiving forest clearances from the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests in October 2022, the Odisha government had withheld full approval due to the pending 'Wildlife Management Plan' by the Wildlife Institute.

For the fiscal year 2024-25, SCCL plans to produce five million tonnes of coal, with production increasing in phases over the next three years. The target of 10 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) is expected to be reached by 2026, according to SCCL officials.

The coal will be transported to a nearby siding and supplied to TANGEDCO (Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation) and NTPC (National Thermal Power Corporation). To facilitate this, SCCL will apply to the Union Ministry of Coal for swapping of 'coal linkages'.

The mine's total capacity is 340.78 million tonnes, allowing for production over the next 35 to 40 years.

As part of a long-term plan, SCCL is acquiring 750 to 1000 acres of land 40-50 km from the coal mine to set up two thermal power plants with a capacity of 800 MW by 2030. This will further enhance power security in Telangana, which already houses two thermal power plants with a capacity of 600 MW in Mancherial district. After the Naini coal mine begins production, an additional 800 MW power plant will be established in the area.

HBL