Lok Sabha Question No. 677 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-06-26
Subject: Ash Content in the Coal
Ministry: COAL
Asked by: Gowdar Mallikarjunappa Siddeshwara

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COAL

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 677 TO BE ANSWERED ON 26.06.2019

## Ash Content in the Coal

## 677. SHRI G.M. SIDDESHWAR :

Will the MINISTER OF COAL be pleased to state :

- (a)   whether Indian coal has comparatively higher ash content than imported coal and if so, the details thereof;
- (b)  whether certain coal companies are supplying coal to their customers with ash content of more than 40 per cent;
- (c)   if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  reasons  therefor  along  with  the  action  taken  by  the Government against such coal companies;
- (d)  the steps taken/ being taken by Government to produce coal in the country at par with the international standards; and
- (e)   further steps taken/ being taken by Government to ensure the maximum use of Indian coal in the country?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS, COAL AND MINES ( SHRI PRALHAD JOSHI)

(a):  A sh  content  of  coal  produced  in  the  country  varies  from  15%  to  45%  with  majority  of  coal produced falls under 35% to 45% range. Average ash content of imported coal varies from 10% to 20 %. Indian Coal due its drift origin contains higher percentage of Ash as compared to import coal. However, Indian coal's Sulphur content is low.

(b & c): As per Ministry of Environment and Forest and Climate Change (MOEF&CC) stipulation coal based thermal power plant be supplied with, and shall use, raw or blended or beneficiated coal with  ash  content  not  exceeding  thirty-four  percent,  on  quarterly  average  basis,  excluding  power plants located within below 500 km from pit head, provided these plants are not located in an urban area  or  an  ecologically  sensitive  area  or  critically  polluted  industrial  area,  except  pit  head  power plants. Coal Companies are supplying coal to their customers maintaining ash percentage below 34% on quarterly average basis as per MOEF&CC stipulation, as applicable.

(d) : In order to produce coal with international standards the following steps have been taken by coal companies:

- i. Focus on high capacity mega mines (Capacities more than 10 million tonne per annum) with high mechanization.
- ii. Introduction of state of the art technology to improve its work efficiency with high capacity Heavy Earth Moving Machinery (HEMM) like 42 cum Shovel and 240 T Rear Dumpers in Gevra Expansion, Dipka & Kusmunda open cast mines.
- iii. Introduction of  Surface  Miners in opencast mines to improve operational efficiency & to cater to environmental needs. During 2018-19 in Coal India Limited (CIL), around 50% of the opencast coal production was through Surface miners.
- iv. Introduction of Information Technology (IT) enabled Operator Independent Truck Dispatch System (OITDS) in 11 nos. of mines of CIL.
- v. Introduction  of  Mass  Production  Technology  in  underground  coal  mines,  2  Mines  are worked  with  powered  support  Longwall  technology  and  9  mines  are  worked  with Continuous Miner technology.
- vi. For rapid coal evacuation, 19 nos. Coal Handling Plants with silos and rapid loading system having existing capacity of 152.5 million tonne are in operation.

(e): To maximize the use of indigenous coal, the following steps are taken/being taken through the following steps:

-  Allocation/auction of captive mine/block tied with end use plants.
-  Source rationalization with part supply from higher grade coal sources.
-  More coal from various sources including higher grade were offered through various types of e-auction schemes particularly special forward e-auction for power consumers, not having Fuel Supply Agreement (FSA) with CIL sources.
-  Supply of additional coal to power plants to meet the shortfall within the Annual Contracted Quantity) ACQ.
-  Implementation of Linkage auction for non-regulated sectors
-  Spot  E-auction  -  For  any  Indian  buyer  (consumers  &  Traders)  suitable  for  short-term planning
-  Exclusive E-auction -- exclusively for the non-power consumers (including Captive Power Producers -- suitable for medium term planning.
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