Bengal may surrender one of the six coal blocks allocated to its power utility West Bengal Power Development Corporation because of unviable mining.
WBPDCL was allocated six coal blocks after the Supreme Court had cancelled all coal blocks allotted to private parties and state PSUs. The allotted blocks are Tara (east and west), Barjore, Gangaramchawk Bhadulia, Pachhwara (north), Barjora (north) and Kasta (east).
The Kasta (east) block, part of Raniganj coalfields, is likely to be surrendered, state government officials said. Production from the remaining blocks is expected to start this year.
The officials added that the stripping ratio, which measures the volume of overburden removed in order to mine coal, is very high. Land acquisition is another area of concern. However, no cabinet decision has been taken on this.
The block is located across an area of 19.5 square kilometres with reserves of 105 mt with likely coal between D and F grades.
“Kasta (east) is a difficult coal block to mine. The stripping ratio for the mine is very high and the area is densely populated. Lifting coal from the block is costly and it is more suitable for underground mining. The block may be surrendered but no decision has been taken,” said Amalesh Kumar, director (mining) of WBPDCL.
Other blocks
From the remaining blocks, WBPDCL expects an annual supply of around 10 million tonnes in three years.
“We have started dispatch from Barjore and Barjora (north). From Pachhwara (north) coal supply is expected from July, while Gangaramchawk Bhadulia and Tara is expected in another two months,” Kumar said on the sidelines of an event organised by the Merchant Chamber of Commerce.
The state generator is expecting an annual supply of around 10 million tonnes from captive sources in three years. WBPDCL at present sources around 14-15 million tonnes from Coal India through fuel supply agreements and depends on captive mining and imported coal to meet its overall requirement of around 18-19 million tonnes.
Higher supply from captive sources could lower the coal requirement from imported sources.
