mining of coal, the mine developer and operator (MDO) model is likely to dominate the Indian coal sector once all the mines allocated become operational in 5-6 years, official sources said. Over 40 mines with an annual capacity to produce more than 500 million tonne of coal have been allocated to state and central governments besides public sector units through competitive bidding. These entities are likely to outsource the mining to MDO contractors, sources said. Currently, coal for merchant mining is not allowed to the private sector and the only available route for them to enter the sector is through the mine developer-cum-operator route. The MDO contractor carries out the entire gamut of activities right from land acquisition, R&R, mine planning to development and operation of mine and coal extraction and coal transportation up to the owner’s loading silo on behalf of the mine owner who holds the mining lease.
The South Eastern Coalfields Ltd (SECL) has become the first company in the country to have crossed coal production figure of 150 million tonnes in a financial year. The SECL achieved the record during the 201819 fiscal and crossed the 150 million tonnes mark on March 20, a company official said. “In the wake of rising demand from the power sector, the SECL is striving hard to extract coal in full throttle. We have crossed 150 million tonnes on March 20 and are already at 153 million tonnes,” SECL chief manager (P&A) P Narendra Kumar told. SECL chairman and managing director A P Panda has taken all steps to expedite coal production as a result of which the SECL also touched the highest ever single day production of 7.44 lakh tonnes in this month, Kumar said.
RAILWAYS
Govt cancels sixth, seventh Indian Railways likely to surpass rounds of coal mines auction revised freight target for FY19 The Centre has cancelled the sixth and seventh rounds of coal mines auction under which it was planning to put on sale 19 blocks. However, the government did not specify the reasons for the cancellation. Under the sixth round, the Government had earlier announced the auction of 13 blocks for the regulated sectors, including iron and steel, cement and aluminium. The mines were Brahampuri, Bundu, Gondkari, Gondulpara, Jaganathpur — A, Jaganathpur—B, Khappa and Extn, Bhaskarpara, Marki Mangli — IV, Sondiha, Chitarpur, Jamkhani and Gare Palma IV/1. In the seventh tranche the coal ministry had said it would auction six coking coal blocks for iron and steel sector.
The Indian Railways has set a record by handling 1,175 million tonnes (mt) of freight till the middle of March in 2018-19, surpassing 1,160 MT in the previous fiscal year. The transporter has handled incremental freight traffic of 54.14 mt from April to February in 2018-19. At this pace, the railways is expected to surpass the revised freight target of 1,216 mt for the current fiscal year. From April to February 2018-19, the railways handled additional traffic of 5.16 per cent, totalling 1,103.53 mt against 1,049.39 mt during the same period last year. Freight earnings for the year have till now increased 11 per cent to Rs 1,23,391 crore.
The blocks were Brahmadiha, Choritand Tilaiya, Jogeshwar and Khas Jogeshwar, Rabodh, Rohne and Urtan North.
SCR registers record freight traffic volume
SECL crosses 150 million tonne coal production in FY19; first company in India to do so
The South Central Railway (SCR) has registered a highest-ever freight traffic business so far.
14 | CCAI Monthly Newsletter March 2019
The freight loading in the current financial year as on March 18, 2019 was at 117.16 million tonnes. Previ-