ARCHIVE

Red tape blocks Indian coal from within

AS COAL India struggles to comply with a demand to increase production and thermal coal shortfall...

Justin Niessner

This article is 12 years old. Images might not display.

Six coal mines controlled by Coal India subsidiary Mahanadi Coalfields were shut down on Saturday because their concession period expired while waiting for environmental clearances.

State authorities reportedly asked the mines to halt operations earlier this year but they were given temporary reprieve during the application process.

“We have already submitted the application and completed all the formalities,” Mahanadi technical and project director AK Singh told Reuters India.

Earlier this year the coal ministry said 50 cases across six Coal India subsidiaries were pending subject to different state governments.

A report focusing on administrative inefficiencies in June found 19 cases were stuck at the Ministry of Environment and Forests and that more than 46 million tonnes of coal were being blocked by government bureaucracy.

Coal India subsidiary South Eastern Coalfields was found to have 30 forestry approvals pending, 18 with state governments and 12 with the environmental ministry.

The Mahanadi mines suspended last weekend represent 3% of the miner’s total coal output which was 14Mt in 2011-12 and is expected to top 112Mt this fiscal year.

TOPICS:

A growing series of reports, each focused on a key discussion point for the mining sector, brought to you by the Mining Monthly Intelligence team.

A growing series of reports, each focused on a key discussion point for the mining sector, brought to you by the Mining Monthly Intelligence team.

editions

Mining Magazine Intelligence: Automation and Digitalisation Report 2024

Exclusive research for Mining Magazine Intelligence Automation and Digitalisation Report 2024 shows mining companies are embracing cutting-edge tech

editions

ESG Mining Company Index: Benchmarking the Future of Sustainable Mining

The ESG Mining Company Index report provides an in-depth evaluation of ESG performance of 61 of the world's largest mining companies. Using a robust framework, it assesses each company across 9 meticulously weighted indicators within 6 essential pillars.

editions

Mining Magazine Intelligence Exploration Report 2024 (feat. Opaxe data)

A comprehensive review of exploration trends and technologies, highlighting the best intercepts and discoveries and the latest initial resource estimates.

editions

Mining Magazine Intelligence Future Fleets Report 2024

The report paints a picture of the equipment landscape and includes detailed profiles of mines that are employing these fleets