Sambalpur: Uday Anant Kaole, Chairman-cum-Managing Director of Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL), announced during a media conference on Friday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to inaugurate four groundbreaking projects in the coal mining sector, with a cumulative investment of Rs 2,145 crore.
The projects, according to the CMD, include two First Mile Connectivity (FMC) initiatives. Bhubaneswari Phase-I, with a capacity of 10 Million Tonnes Per Annum (MTPA) in Talcher Coalfields, Angul district, represents an investment of Rs 335 crore. Additionally, the Lajkura Rapid Loading System (RLS), boasting a capacity of 15 MTPA, was built at a cost of Rs 375 crore in Ib Valley Coalfields.
Another project in the lineup is the Ib Valley Washery, equipped to wash 10 MTPA of non-coking coal annually. Situated in Jharsuguda district, Odisha, this infrastructure, constructed at a total cost of Rs 557 crore, signifies a pivotal shift in coal processing, emphasizing quality, innovation, and sustainability, as highlighted by Kaole.
The Prime Minister will also dedicate a 50-kilometer-long second track of the Jharsuguda-Barpali-Sardega rail line Phase-1 to the nation. This critical piece of infrastructure, an investment of Rs 878 crore, aligns with sustainability initiatives geared towards energy security.
Prominent officers present at the conference included Keshav Rao, Director (Personnel), Jugal Kumar Borah, Director (Technical/Operations), and A K Bapat, Director (Technical/Projects & Planning). The projects are poised to significantly enhance the coal sector’s efficiency and contribute to the nation’s energy security goals.