Lok Sabha Question No. 810 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-02-07
Subject: Coal Production
Ministry: COAL
Asked by: D. M. Kathir Anand

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COAL LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 810

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 07.02.2024

## Coal Production

## 810. SHRI D.M. KATHIR ANAND:

## Will the Minister of Coal be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the total coal production in India registered a decline during the last three years and if so, the details thereto;
- (b) whether Coal India Ltd. (CIL) and NLCIL have decided to replace the huge fleet of Heavy Earth Moving Machines equipment on diesel consumption with Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has entered into any contract with GAIL in this regard and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether the CIL and NLCIL have also taken series of measures to offset carbon emission in mining operations in all its coal producing companies and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) whether the CIL and NLCIL have planned to add 1500 E-Vehicles in all its mining areas for the next five years and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS, COAL AND MINES

## (SHRI PRALHAD JOSHI)

- (a): No sir. The details of the coal production during the last three years are as under:

## [Figures in Million Tonnes]

| Year    |   Production of Coal |
|---------|----------------------|
| 2020-21 |               716.08 |
| 2021-22 |               778.21 |
| 2022-23 |               893.19 |

(b) & (c): Coal India Limited (CIL) has taken an initiative for introduction of dual fuel [Diesel - Liquid Natural Gas (LNG)] operation in the existing diesel dumpers of the company through a pilot project for techno-economic feasibility study including effect on reduction of carbon emission. Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed with Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL) and Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML) for conducting the pilot project on dual fuel (Diesel and LNG) operation by retrofitting LNG kit in two existing diesel operated BEML make 100T dumpers at Lakhanpur Open Cast Project (OCP) of Mahanadi Coalfields Limited, Odisha.

In NLCIL, the main mining machinery / equipment used for excavation of lignite and over burden are operated by using electricity. Only a few support ancillary mining Heavy Earth Moving Machines (HEMM) like dozers, pipe-layers, back-hoes, road graders, etc. are diesel operated. As of now, there is no proposal in NLCIL to substitute with LNG fuel.

- (d): Coal India Limited has taken various initiatives for reduction of carbon emission in mining operations as listed below:
- i.  Under  the  First  Mile  Connectivity  (FMC)  Projects,  coal  is  being  transported  through mechanised  conveyor  belt  and  CHP  /  SILO.  FMC  projects  emerge  as  eco-friendly  coal transport modes, leading towards reductions in dust emissions, tipper tailpipe emissions, tipper diesel consumption, pay loader emissions, railway sidings emissions, ambient sound levels, and tipper carbon footprints.

ii. Deployment of surface miners for open cast mines and continuous miners for under-ground mines.

- iii. Extensive tree plantation programme undertaken every year.
- iv. Various energy conservation and energy efficiency measures such as installation of LED lights, energy efficient ACs, energy efficient pumps and fans, green buildings, capacitor banks etc.
- v. Deployment of e-vehicles in all its subsidiary companies.

Measures taken by NLCIL to offset carbon emission in mining operations are as under:

- i. Timely replacement of life served equipment with new equipment.
- ii.  Strict  maintenance  schedules  are  followed  for  equipment  which  in  turn  reduces  carbon emission.
- iii. Main machinery/equipment used for lignite excavation is operated by using electricity.
- iv. Mining operations are planned in such a way to minimize the usage of support ancillary diesel operated mining equipment.
- v. Massive tree plantation and afforestation in re-claimed mined out areas to neutralize carbon emission.
- vi. Afforestation / Green corridor is maintained and enhanced to overcome carbon emission.
7. (e): Coal India Limited is emphasizing on purchasing / hiring of electrical vehicles (e-vehicles) at  different mines, areas and subsidiary headquarters. The present numbers of e-vehicles in Coal  India  Limited  is  178  and  considering  the  tenure  of  existing  transport  contracts  and requirement of the subsidiary companies, the target is as under:

|   2023-24 |   2024-25 |   2025-26 |   Total |
|-----------|-----------|-----------|---------|
|       380 |       143 |       158 |     681 |

NLCIL has not planned to add e-vehicles in its mining areas.

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