Coal india preparing for tech upgradation

Coal India Ltd is preparing for a major technological upgradation on the lines of global mining practices followed in countries like the US and Australia that will include GPS tracking of vehicles to check coal plunder and having a ICT-complaint machinery. The revamp will also cover electronic fencing of mines.

The move comes against the backdrop of the single largest global producer of coal being mandated to double its output to 1 billion tonne by 2020, contributing significantly to India growth story. Besides, the government is looking at opening up commercial coal mining to private players.

"Coal India is ready for a technological jump to increase its efficiency and output. A large number of steps are being initiated that include use of satellite technology for green fencing and utilisation of GPS to monitor vehicles," CIL Chairman and Managing Director Sutirtha Bhattacharya said. On funding of the upgradation, Bhattacharya said: "Parts of capex (capital expenditure) and opex (operational expenditure) both will be utilised for the same." 

According to officials, the upgradation will be on the lines of practices followed by miners in the US and Australia. The miner which produces over 81 per cent of India's overall coal production has lined up a capital expenditure of Rs 6,000 crore for the current fiscal. Admitting pilferage of coal, government said recently that a project for introduction of global positioning system (GPS) on trucks carrying coal is underway to prevent theft and diversion besides installation of CCTVs at all vulnerable points like entry and exit gates, weigh bridges and sidings to keep a regular watch.