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NTPC to handover its mines to newly set-up subsidiary – EQ Mag

NTPC to handover its mines to newly set-up subsidiary – EQ Mag

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Ranchi: The National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC), the country’s largest energy conglomerate, has decided to transfer its coal mines and mining activities to its newly incorporated, wholly-owned subsidiary NTPC Mining Limited (NML).

After getting the nod from the Union coal ministry, the process of asset transfer is being initiated, NTPC officials said. The incorporation of the NML is a step towards bringing several other critical minerals in the mining basket. As of now NML has signed a pact with the Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL) for exploration and mining of uranium and may add more minerals in the basket soon.

Regional executive director (coal mining) Partha Mazumder said on Sunday the asset transfer is occurring at a time when the coal mines have recorded a substantial increase in coal production.
“NTPC Ltd, the country’s leading integrated energy producer, had a substantial 148% increase in coal production from its four operational captive mines in April 2023, if compared with the production achieved in April 2022. The company produced 2.75 MT of coal during the month, a marked improvement from 1.11 MT in April 2022,” he said. Of the four captive mines, two— Chatti Bariatu and Punkree Burwadih — are in Jharkhand while Dulanga is in Odisha and Talaipalli in Chhatisgarh.

NTPC also reached its all-time high in monthly coal dispatch, with 2.95 MT in April 2023, representing a 140% increase over the previous year. As of now, NML would have seven coal mines in its kitty of which five are in Jharkhand. Coal production started from Chatti Bariatu mine, while Punkree Burwadih was already in production. Two more mines — Kerendari and Badam in Hazaribag and Banardih in Latehar — would start production in near future as they are in various stages of clearance and exploration.

For the current financial year, NTPC has been given a target of 34 MT by the Union power ministry. Mazundar added that the significant uptick in coal production is credited to the adoption of digital initiatives by NTPC’s coal mining teams, which have elevated operational excellence and improved safety in mining operations. “Key digital initiatives include a digitized safety management plan called e-SMP; a mobile app for safety, Sachetan; people & machinery tracking system and integrated coal management system,” he said.

Source: PTI
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Anand Gupta Editor - EQ Int'l Media Network