The Singareni Collieries Company Ltd. (SCCL) has its focus on value addition by improving the quality of coal produced/mined by setting up new washeries as the demand for such processed coal is on the rise, particularly from power and cement industries. This step will be in addition to its plans to enhance coal production to 85 million tonnes by 2024.
The public sector coal company has three whashery units now set up on build, own and operate basis with one each at Manuguru, Mandamarri and Ramagundam-II mine areas having one million tonnes (MT) per annum capacity each. The processing or washing of coal mined is taken up for reducing the ash content in it to 25% to 30% from 40% or more. According to SCCL officials, coal washing is the order of the day in most of the industrialised countries, However, in India, less than 30% of the total coal production is put through the process.
As the existing capacity of processing coal in Singareni is very limited compared to its production of over 60 MT, the company has chalked out plans to establish three more washeries at Bellampalli, Ramagundam and Sathupalli, with a processing capacity of seven MT together.
“Processing of coal is an integral part of the industry’s life cycle. It is a process to be done to reduce the ash content in it through physical separation. About 25% to 30% ash content is coal is ideal for efficient burning of coal in thermal power stations for cost-effective power generation. Keeping in view the preference of our customers for washed coal we plan to ramp up the process”, Chairman and Managing Director of SCCL N. Sridhar stated.
Apart from improving the combustion capacity of coal by reducing the impurities, the washed coal, when burnt, significantly reduces the release of particulate matter into the ambient air, Singareni officials said adding that the emission of other noxious gases is also much lower with the washed coal.
