Pelma Mine sets new milestone as SECL’s pioneer opencast MDO coal producer
In a significant development, the Pelma Mine, nestled within the Chhattisgarh region, is poised to become South Eastern Coalfields Limited’s (SECL) premier opencast mine operating under the Mine Developer and Operator (MDO) model. SECL, a prominent player in the Indian coal sector, has inked a pivotal agreement with Pelma Collieries to oversee operations at the Pelma opencast mine, situated in the Raigarh region.
Under the terms of this groundbreaking agreement, Pelma Collieries is entrusted with the comprehensive responsibility for all aspects of this project, including design, financing, procurement, construction, operation, and maintenance. Over the next two decades, Pelma Collieries is slated to extract an impressive 219 million tonnes of coal from the mine, targeting an annual output of 15 million tonnes of high-quality G-12 grade coal.
The MDO model represents an innovative paradigm for mining operations, fostering collaboration between government and private enterprises to meet the nation’s energy requirements. This strategic move will greatly augment SECL’s coal production capacity, thus playing a pivotal role in realizing Coal India’s ambitious goal of 1 billion tonnes in annual production.
SECL has already demonstrated its prowess in revitalizing dormant mines through the MDO model. The Ketki UG mine in the Bishrampur area has the distinction of being the first coal mine in India to successfully produce coal under the MDO framework. Simultaneously, the Letter of Award has been issued to the Kalyani UG Mine in the Bhatgaon area, slated for operation under the MDO revenue-sharing model. Furthermore, SECL is actively pursuing additional projects for implementation under the MDO framework.
The Raigarh region within SECL’s jurisdiction stands as a strategically vital coalfield, boasting substantial coal reserves. This area is set to play a pivotal role in SECL’s future production endeavors. With an estimated coal reserve of approximately 1900 million tonnes, it ranks as the nation’s third-largest coalfield. Additionally, SECL is taking steps to establish a dedicated rail corridor in this area, facilitating the swift and efficient evacuation of coal resources.
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