HISTORY

Raniganj Coalfield, which falls under E.C.L. is the birth place of coal mining in the Country.  In 1774, first mining operation in the Country was started in this Coalfield by Sumner & Heatly. In 1820, first Coal Company M/s. Alexander & Company was established.  In 1835, first Indian Enterprise i.e. M/s. Carr & Tagore Company was formed.  In 1843, the first joint stock Coal Company i.e. M/s. Bengal Coal Company was formed.  Since then, underground coal mining operation had been continuing in Raniganj Coalfields by numerous small owners. Raniganj Coalfield remained the principal producer of coal in India  in 19th Century and considerable period of the 20th Century.

COAL RESERVE

The Total Coal Reserve in ECL upto 600 metre depth   is 38.73 billion tonnes out of which 22.62 billion in the State of West Bengal and 15.91 Billion tonne is in the state of Jharkhand.  Total proven reserve in the State of West Bengal is 11.38 billion tonne and 3.94 billion tonne in the state of Jharkhand.

The total coal production of ECL at the time of nationalization was around 21 million tonnes, of which over 19 million tonnes was from underground mines and the rest from manual quarries. Immediately after nationalization, efforts were made to improve production level with addition of inputs by way of both short-term and long term investment resulting into increase  in production.  However, due to suspension of operation of number of  mines/ units on the ground of  exhaustion of coal reserves in working seams, on safety ground as well as being uneconomic and problem of land acquisition for depillaring with caving as well as gradual reduction of loader strength production from underground mines could not be sustained and got reduced considerably to 9.45 million tonnes in 04-05.  In order to sustain and augment the underground production a road map has been formulated envisaging mechanization of manual mines by way of introduction of SDL/LHD in loading operation covering more mines wherever practically feasible.  As on date company is deploying 118 nos. of SDL and 33 nos. of LHD.  During 2007-08 we have procured 29 nos. of SDL and 8 nos. of LHD. Procurement proposal for another 40 SDLs and 15 LHDs is also under process.

Apart from this, for augmentation of underground production three mines have been identified for introduction of Mass production technology by way of deployment Continuous Miner with shuttle Car on risk/gain sharing basis.  At the first instance Continuous Miners Package was introduced at Jhanjra Project in collaboration with M/s. Joy Mining Machinery Limited on risk/gain sharing basis in Sept. 2007 and it produced about 0.27 million tonnes during 2007-08 and is running successfully at present.  For deployment of another Continuous Miner at Sarpi UG mine of Bankola Area agreement with M/s. Joy Mining Machinery Limited is under finalization. The Continuous Miner at Sarpi is expected to be received by Nov. ’09. For another Continuous miner at Jhanjra, project report has been approved by ECL Board and forwarded to CIL Board for final approval. Global tender will be floated shortly. In addition to this, High Power PSLW set is also proposed to be introduced at R-VI seam of Jhanjra for mechanized production from Longwall operation.

Power Plant-Core Sector Principal Consumer

In order to meet the growing demand of coal of the consumers, Eastern Coalfields Limited intends to increase coal production from both Opencast and Underground Mines from the existing coal production of 27.253 Mt. tonnes (2004-05) to 46.00 million tonnes in XI Plan (2011-12). Target for 2008-09 Coal 31.50 million tonnes and OB removal 51.43 million cu.m. In addition to mechanization of manual mines by way of introduction of SDL/LHD, introduction of Continuous Miners in 3 mines & Introduction of high power PSLW at Jhanjra,  Eight number of new Underground Projects have been taken up for implementation during X Plan period and seven number of underground projects have proposed to be taken up in XI Plan period to replace and augment the existing underground production.  Out of 6 UG Projects identified in the Xth  Plan period, 2 projects are giving production, 3 projects are under different stages of implementation and 1 project viz. Kumardihi ‘A’/’B’(Mine Entries) has been dovetailed into approved Kumardihi ‘B’ Project.