Question : Certification of Coal Quality

(a) whether Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has signed an annual Rs.250 crore deal with several state-run coal and thermal power companies to certify the quality of coal being supplied and used in their facilities and if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether the Government has a robust mechanism for proper inspection of coal;
(c) if so, the details and present status thereof along with the benefits likely to be accrued as a result thereof;
(d) whether the Ministry has any plan to setup quality checking unit in any thermal plant so far and if so, the details thereof;
(e) whether the Ministry of Science and Technology and Ministry of Coal has made any agreement to set up quality checking unit of coal across the country; and
(f) if so, the details thereof for parameters to be taken for checkup and action taken by the Government thereon and if not, the reasons therefor?

MINISTER OF STATE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND EARTH SCIENCES

(SHRI Y.S. CHOWDARY)

(a) Yes Madam. Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) through its constituent laboratory CSIR-Central Institute of Mining and Fuel Research (CSIR-CIMFR), Dhanbad, has entered into a MoU with Coal Supplying Companies and Power Utilities for quality analysis of coal.

(b)&(c) A mechanism has been put in place for quality assurance and the use of right grade of coal. The effort through the project is to minimize the disagreements on quality issues between coal producers and end users. This will result in the improvement of performance of power plants as they will use right grade coal.

(d),(e)&(f) No Madam. CSIR-CIMFR has deployed its team at different loading points (mine end) & unloading point (power plant) for coal sampling. The analysis of collected coal samples will be done at CSIR-CIMFR, Dhanbad and its extension centres located at Ranchi, Bilaspur and Nagpur. The coal testing/ analysis parameter would include total moisture determination and moisture, ash content and Gross Caloric Value (GCV) on equilibrated moisture basis.
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