Mumbai, July 10 -- Union Minister for Coal and Mines G Kishan Reddy directed Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) to prepare a comprehensive action plan spanning 10 to 15 years to secure South India's energy needs. He chaired a review meeting at Singareni Bhavan in Hyderabad and assessed production, transportation and statutory clearances. The minister emphasised that coal will remain a crucial part of India's energy mix for decades and asked the company to increase production, reduce operational costs and improve efficiency. He also urged active participation in upcoming coal block auctions to expand mining capacity.
He reviewed coal production, transportation networks, overburden removal and new mining projects and called for expedited statutory processes where required. The minister proposed constituting a special committee to drive long term reforms and assured full support from the central government for expansion plans. Emphasis was placed on improving quality standards, operational transparency and clear communication of financial and operational realities to employees.
Kishan suggested SCCL explore coal gasification on a pilot basis and consider projects in the Ramagundam industrial region given the presence of fertiliser and other industrial units. He warned that El Nino conditions could cause electricity consumption in agriculture and industry to rise significantly and asked SCCL and Coal India Limited (CIL) to strengthen production, transportation and supply systems to ensure uninterrupted fuel availability. He directed the company to expedite transportation contracts to manage higher output.
The minister described employees as SCCL's greatest strength and called for measures to make them active stakeholders in the company's growth to foster ownership. SCCL chairman and managing director Dr B Prakash Jyothi presented an overview of production, transport networks and challenges related to forest land acquisition after withdrawal of central public sector enterprise status. The minister said efforts would be made to resolve these issues quickly and that he would take up transportation concerns for the Naini coal block with the Odisha government.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Construction World.