Coal India plans for washeries for coking coal import substitution

With an aim to bring down coking coal imports and achieve Atmanirbharata in the supply of fuel for steel plants, Coal India has decided to focus on coal beneficiation in a bigger way, the company has disclosed in its annual report.

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Coal beneficiation

CIL is presently operating 12 coal washeries with a total washing capacity of 31.23 mty.

Out of these, 10 are coking coal washeries and balance two are non-coking, with capacities of 20.23 million tons a year (mty) and 11 mty respectively.

The total washed coal production including middlings from these existing washeries during FY20 was 12.72 mt to enhance the beneficiation capacity of coking coal.

CIL is setting up further five new washeries in BCCL.

These washeries are expected to be operational by FY22.

“More washeries are being planned for washing the surplus coking coal so that

Coal India plans for washeries for coking coal import substitution import of coking coal is minimized in steel sector,” Coal India said in its annual report for FY20.

Out of these, Patherdih (5 mty) throughput capacity, has been handed over for commercial operation in April while three are under construction (9.5 mty).

Another washery at Moonidih (2.5 mty) is about to be tendered.

CIL is also setting up three non-coking coal washeries in MCL for beneficiating thermal coal to improve quality.

Plans director post for new ventures including coking coal asset buy

Coal India is creating a post of director of business development who would be in charge of the mining major’s all diversification projects including effort to acquire overseas coking coal assets.

A resolution for this would be placed before shareholders in the upcoming Annual General Meeting of the company on September 23.