Date:19/04/2006 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2006/04/19/stories/2006041903400900.htm

Back CCEA okays 2 coal projects

Our Bureau

New Delhi, April 18

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) today approved two coal open cast coal mining projects of Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd (MCL) which will produce a total of another 30 million tonnes of coal annually.

Briefing newspersons after the meeting, the Minister of State for Science and Technology, Mr Kapil Sibal, said the Cabinet has okayed floating of tenders for Kaniah Opencast Coal Mining project for outsourcing coal production and removal of overburden for 10 mt per year capacity.

He said on completion of the project in 2008-09 there would be an additional production of 10 mt of F grade coal, which would be supplied to the Rajiv Gandhi Super Thermal Power Station and National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC). The CCEA also approved floating of tenders for Bhubaneshwari Opencast Project for outsourcing coal production and overburden removal and for construction of a 20 mt of coal head pit capacity from its present level of 10 mt per year. On completion, the Bhubaneshwari mine will produce 20 mt of F grade coal annually that would be supplied to NTPC and State Government- owned thermal power stations.