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3-Emerging Trends in The Open Cast Coal Mining

- Surface coal mining in India has grown dramatically over the past 50 years through increased mechanization and the development of larger open cast mining projects. - Newer, larger equipment like 20m3 shovels, 170t dump trucks, and 1400 liter bucket wheel excavators are now used compared to earlier smaller equipment. - Emerging technologies like continuous surface miners, in-pit crushing and conveying, and automated systems promise higher productivity but also pose new safety, environmental and economic challenges for the large open cast mines of the future.

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60 views17 pages

3-Emerging Trends in The Open Cast Coal Mining

- Surface coal mining in India has grown dramatically over the past 50 years through increased mechanization and the development of larger open cast mining projects. - Newer, larger equipment like 20m3 shovels, 170t dump trucks, and 1400 liter bucket wheel excavators are now used compared to earlier smaller equipment. - Emerging technologies like continuous surface miners, in-pit crushing and conveying, and automated systems promise higher productivity but also pose new safety, environmental and economic challenges for the large open cast mines of the future.

Uploaded by

jimcorbett099
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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EMERGING TRENDS IN THE OPEN

CAST COAL MINING TECHNOLOGY-


ISSUES AND CHALLENGES

Dr. H.K.Naik
A Birds Eye View of a surface mine in operation
INTRODUCTION

The first published reference to coal mining in India


dates back to 1774 when manual mining on a small
scale was started in Raniganj Coal fields.

Most of the requirement was met from underground


operations but with the increase in demand and the
need to mine deeper deposits, involving longer time
and higher cost surface mining assumed greater
importance
The first mechanized operation started during World
War – II & in the East Bokaro Coalfields as Bihar (now
Jharkhand) by British contractors Lindsay Parkinson.

From them on, opencast or surface mining started


getting strong dose of mechanization.
GROWTH OF SURFACE MINING
Growth of surface mining accelerated after independence
because of the five year plans.

In the post independence era foreign collaboration with


countries like U.K., Poland, France, USSR, FRG, brought
some new technologies.

A significant development was the nationalization of coal


mines in 1970’s which enabled proper planning.

In 1973 energy crisis gave a jolt to the industry and coal


became primary source of energy.
Coal production from U.G. and Surface mines
(in million tones)

YEAR U G SURFACE
1974-75 63.64 24.77
1979-80 64.50 39.50
1984-85 73.40 74.01
1989-90 81.85 127.65
1994-95 112.42 197.89
1999-2000 126.07 292.19
2004-05 132.00 353.00
There has been a phenomenal increase in the
production from opencast mines in the post
nationalization era.

As a matter of fact the entire growth in generation of


thermal power is based on the increase of the opencast
sector which has received heavy investment.

Some underground mines have been converted to


opencast mines e.g. Gouthamkhani in Kothagudem
and Centenary O.C. project in Manuguru of Godavari
valley coalfield
MAJOR OPEN CAST PROJECTS
PROJECT COALFIEL ANN.CAP( AV.SR(m3/ TOT.EXC TOT.CAP.I
D Mt/YR) t) AV.(Mm3) NVEST.
(Rs-Mill)
JAYANT NCL 10.0 2.6 1132 3130
DADHICH NCL 10.0 3.29 1356 3410
UA
KHADIA NCL 10.0 4.28 1457 6550
NIGAHII NCL 14.0 3.75 2163 8360
GEVRA SECL 10.0 1.0 1039 1730
KUSMUND SECL 6.O 1.41 760 770
A
MUKUNDA BCCL 12.0 4.5 ----- 1300
SURFACE MINES – THEN AND NOW
PARAMETER EARLIER MINES MINES BEING
PLANNED

SIZE (Mt./yr) 1--3 10-15

DEPTH, m 100---120 UP TO 500

SR (m3/t) 1.5:1 10:1

VOL.OF O.B (Mm3) 5-7 100-150

GRADIENT 1 IN 12 1 IN 3

NO. OF SEAMS SINGLE MULTIPLE


UPDATE ON EQUIPMENTS

 Shovels: The 4.6m3 rope shovel which was once considered as standard equipment has been
replaced by 10m3 shovel which may perhaps be replaced in turn by 20m3 shovel. 20m3 rope
shovels are already working at Amlori, NCL.

 Hydraulic excavators provide serious competitors to rope shovels although some mine operators
are sceptical of their reliability –especially of their hydraulic circuitry. Hydraulic shovels of
8.3m3 capacity already in operation and they will find wider application in future mines.

 Draglines : First dragline was commissioned in 1955 in Kurasia Colliery. This was a small one-
15/90. Now there are more than two dozens of draglines working in different coal fields with
bucket size up to 32 Cum.

 Trucks: Dumpers of 35- 50t capacity were a common sight in opencast mines. Large mines now
have 85, 100 and 120t rear dumpers. In Amlori 170t dumpers are already in operation.

 Drills: Blast hole drills of 160-200mm dia for coal benches and 300-330 mm dia for overburden
benches are envisaged.

 Dozers of 600-700 hp are already operating in big mines.

 Bucket wheel excavators: The first BWE employed at Neyveli was 350 liter capacity. Now 1400
Liter BWE are in use.
APPLICATION OF NEW TECHNOLOGY

In pit crushing and conveying system


Feeder breakers
Continuous surface miners – a break through
technology
Rapid loading of coal
Automatic truck dispatching system
Blasting & Explosives with site mixed emulsion
Electronification and Computerization
Others(REMOTE SENSING,GPS,TOTAL
STATIONS,DEEP PENETRATING
RADARS,PROFILE METER , etc.,)
Thus we see that surface coal mining in
these past 20 years has progressed far
and ahead and

India today proudly claims as the third


largest producer of coal in the world.
SWOT ANALYSIS
STRENGTH:
1. Capable of high production.
2. All the O.C. mines are making profits.
Weaknesses:
1. Mega projects are creating many problems on S.H.E.
(safety, health and environment)
- Deforestation, exodus of bio-diversity
- Destruction of green cover and soil nourishing
bacteria.
Disturbing the environment – air pollution by gases and
particulate matter.
2. Economics of O.C.M is short-term, Mining deeper horizons
is uneconomical.
OPPORTUNITIES:
1. There is greater demand for power, which can be easily
met only by O.C. mines.
2. Outsourcing has become a boon to O.C. mines.
3. R & D organizations provides know-how in respect of
Blasting and Genetics engineering is developing
species suitable for wasteland and reclaimed dumps.
4.Policies of the Govt. (Privatization, captive coal mines)
are favorable to O.C. mines
Threats:
1. Maintenance of acceptable environment will pose
biggest threat.
2. Increasing problems of land acquisition and
environment will put brakes on open cast mining in
future.
STRATEGIES

The future strategy should include the following :


Thrust on continuous system of working
Replacement of trucks by conveyors
Replacement of drill–blast–load system by continuous
surface miner system and ripper-dozer system
Non-rail transport to be reduced.
 Avoid blasting as far as possible or adopt controlled
blasting techniques to reduce ground vibration.
Production planning will have to be based on total
system approach.
Conclusion
Since about 70% of the total investment will be on P&M
(Plant and Machinery), the existing availability and
utilization factors of HEMM should be improved.

Concurrent reclamation and rehabilitation of mining areas


should be given priority.

The lease may be returned to the oustees after land


reclamation is done.

A multidisciplinary approach is required to the management


of land involving mining engineers, landscape architects,
hydrological experts, natural scientists, civil engineers etc.
THANK YOU
FOR YOUR PATIENT HEARING

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