Coal India Ltd’s mining arm Central Coalfields Ltd (CCL) has reopened its Rajhara coal mine in Jharkhand after getting necessary environmental clearances.
The coal mine situated in Palamu district of Jharkhand has been one of the
oldest coal mines in the country, started in the 19th century during 1842.
The mine was initially worked by underground method but after nationalisation it was converted to an opencast mine to recover good quality reserves of coal which otherwise would have been lost.
Rajhara coal mine is situated close to Sadabah river, a tributary of North Koel. Since mining operations were below the high flood level, they were found unsafe and hence were suspended in Oct’10 following safety reasons. Additionally, there were issues related to environmental clearance also.
The management of CCL had taken corrective and precautionary measures for the safety of mine and its environmental clearance. Finally, after the environmental clearance was issued on 14 Feb’19, the coal company resumed mining operations at the mine on 25 Feb’19.
Rajhara coal mines has an estimated balance coal reserve of 5 MnT. With a capacity to extract 3 Lakh Tonne per year, the life of mine is ascertained at 18 years.
The specified grade of coal found in the mine is G9 having a calorific value in the range of 4601 to 4900 Kcal/kg.
CCL is further planning to reopen more such coal mines which were closed earlier because of safety and economic reasons.
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