In continuation of its pioneering technology-driven initiatives, the Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) has drawn up plans to introduce the continuous miner technology in one more underground mine in Kothagudem region to accelerate coal production in tune with its ambitious growth strategy.
Buoyed by the successful adoption of the continuous miner technology in the Venkateshkhani underground mine (VK7 incline) in Kothagudem area and GDK 11 A mine in Karimnagar district, the SCCL management has mooted introduction of the sophisticated technology in Padmavathi Khani underground mine in Kothagudem area in the near future.
The SCCL has carved out a niche for itself in embracing modern technologies like longwall system in pursuit of its grand coal production targets. The company has commissioned air-conditioned system in the continuous miner panel in VK7 incline in 2012.
Faced with the burgeoning demand for coal, the SCCL has chalked out ambitious strategies to vigorously implement technology driven initiatives for extracting coal from deeper depths.
The initiatives gained prominence in the backdrop of the company’s ambitious plans to raise the coal output to 80 million tonnes by 2020 to feed its own upcoming thermal power project as well as some of the Telangana State Power Generation Corporation (TSGENCO).
The continuous coal miner technology has proved highly successful and immensely beneficial in increasing the coal output manifold in VK7 incline, said M Mallesh, Chief General Manager, SCCL, Kothagudem Area.
Coal to an extent of 4.50 lakh tonnes per annum could be produced using the sophisticated technology in a cost-effective manner under safe working conditions. It costs only Rs 2,500 to produce one tonne of coal in the continuous miner panel as against over Rs 3,500 per tonne incurred in the manual system.
The continuous miner panel was commissioned in VK7 incline over six years ago. It has produced one million tonnes of coal so far.
It has undergone overhaul recently, he said, adding that a plan was on the anvil to introduce continuous miner in Padmavathi Khani and subsequently in the proposed Rampur shaft block in Kothagudem area in the near future.
