Question : Assistance for Abandoned Coal Mines

(a) Whether the Government has sought assistance from the World Bank and other global institutions for re-purposing its abandoned coal mines to make these environmentally stable and suitable for commercial purpose and if so, the details thereof;
(b) Whether the Government has taken steps to make more coal available for utilities as shortages in some quarters have been forecast to be wider than initially estimated due to expectations of high power demand; and
(c) if so, the details and the present status thereof?

MINISTER OF PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS, COAL AND MINES
(SHRI PRALHAD JOSHI)

(a) to (c) : A statement is laid on the Table of the House.



Statement referred to in answer to parts (a) to (c) of Lok Sabha Starred Question No.57 asked by Shri Manne Srinivas Reddy and Shri Komati Reddy Venkat Reddy for 20.07.2022.

(a) : Yes, Sir. Ministry of Coal has received proposals from World Bank and GIZ (a German Development Agency) for assistance in development of India Specific Mine Closure Framework based on Just Transition Principles for closed and abandoned coal mines which also include the activity of re-purposing of such mines to make them environmentally stable and suitable for commercial purpose, and also addressing the need of re-skilling the local persons and finding alternate livelihoods.

Subsequent to approval of Department of Economic Affairs (DEA) for grant based technical assistance proposed in the World Bank’s Preliminary Project Report (PPR), Phase -1 of the World Bank Project has started with mapping of all closed and running mines, social survey, perception survey, stakeholder consultations etc. in Bokaro District, Jharkhand.

(b) and (c) : The coal stock available at Power Plants, monitored on daily basis in Central Electricity Authority (CEA), increased from 25.60 Million Tonnes (MT) as on 31.03.2022 to 28.06 MT as on 13.07.2022, which is sufficient for 10 days at 85% PLF (Plant Load Factor). Further, the coal stock available in mines of CIL and SCCL is 43.83 MT, as on 13.07.2022. As such, there has been no shortage of coal for power utilities. However, Government has taken several steps to ensure sustainable and uninterrupted coal supply to utilities to meet country’s power demand:-

(i) With constant monitoring, thrust and support, coal companies have performed exceedingly well in the first quarter of current fiscal, resulting in enhanced receipt of domestic coal at power plants to the tune of 189 MT in comparison to receipt of 158.9 MT during same period last year, registering a growth of about 19%.

(ii) For the current year, CIL has informed to dispatch coal to the tune of 700 Million Tonnes (MT), out of which 565 MT would be provided to Power Sector. During the current year, Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) has informed to supply 57.8 MT of coal to power sector.

(iii) For ensuring proper and timely coal supplies to Power Plants, weekly subgroup meetings are held by representatives of Ministry of Coal, Ministry of Power, CEA and Railways. Railways are requested to give priority to rakes for supply of coal to the power generators.

(iv) Evacuation facilities from mines to various despatch points/destinations have been strengthened/ enhanced through dedicated Railway lines, First Mile Connectivity projects - with dedicated sidings and Coal Handling Plants (CHPs)/SILOs and building major coal transport roads.

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