MDOs will facilitate R&R issues, land acquisitions, green clearance and coordination with state and central pollution boards. As the contracts with them are on a long-term basis, the Allied infrastructure will also be developed.
Coal India Limited (CIL) will engage mining developer cum operators (MDOs) to increase their coal output and reduce import dependence on dry fuel in the coming years. In the process, Maharatna 's coal mining company identified a total of 15 greenfield projects to be operated by MDO, of which 12 are open-cast and 3 are underground, according to the release of Western Coalfields Ltd (WCL) – a subsidiary of CIL. Combined, they have a total target capacity of around 168 million tons / year (MTY). While OC projects have a target capacity of 162 MTY, UG projects have close to 6 MTY. The contract period would be 25 years or mine life, whichever is less.
“CIL will engage MDOs of international repute, having state-of-the-art-technology through open global tenders, who shall excavate, extract and deliver coal to the coal companies of CIL as per the approved mining plan.
The CIL Board has recently given its nod in relation to standard tender documents and requests for tenders for the commitment of MDOs. CIL is planning to complete the formalities by 2021-22 so that all projects will become operational and start delivering output to contribute to 1 BT by 2023-24, "it said. It further informed that the next identified Mahanadi Coalfields Limited, South Eastern Coalfields and Central Coalfields Limited projects will form major MDO segments with a target capacity of 65.5 MTY, 52.4 MTY and 45 MTY respectively.
Eastern Coalfields Limited and Northern Coalfields Limited will have projects with targeted capacities of 3 MTY and 2 MTY, respectively. “Notice Inviting Tender (NIT) for 2 Projects, Siarmal OC of MCL (40 MTY) and Kotre-Basantpur Pachmo of CCL (5 MTY) together having a targeted capacity of 45 MTY has been floated in 2019-20. While NIT for 5 Projects for a targeted capacity of 68 MTY will be floated in the ongoing fiscal, for the balance 8 projects NIT will be floated in the fiscal, 2021- 22,” the release said.
It also informed that reputable MDOs would be engaged to have multiple advantages of technology infusion and operating efficiency in the system, apart from increased production. MDOs will facilitate R&R issues, land acquisitions, green clearance and coordination with state and central pollution boards. As the contracts with them are on a long-term basis, the Allied infrastructure will also be developed.
