India's coal industry is ready for a technological upgrade as South Eastern Coalfields Ltd (SECL), a subsidiary of Coal India, becomes the nation's first coal public sector unit to implement paste filling technology for underground coal extraction. In a major advancement, SECL has entered into a ₹7,040-crore deal with TMC Mineral Resources Pvt Ltd to apply this cutting-edge solution at the Singhali underground coal mine located in Korba, Chhattisgarh.
The emergence of paste filling technology represents a pivotal change for eco-friendly coal mining in India. This approach consists of filling excavated voids with a specially designed paste composed of fly ash, crushed overburden, cement, water, and binding agents—providing a safer option compared to traditional mining practices while safeguarding surface infrastructure.
"South Eastern Coalfields Ltd (SECL) is set to become the first coal PSU in India to adopt paste fill technology for coal mining... To implement this innovative underground mining technology, SECL has signed a Rs 7,040 crore agreement with TMC Mineral Resources Pvt Ltd," the public sector unit said in a statement.
The Singhali mine, operational since 1993, holds 8.45 million tonnes of extractable non-coking coal reserves. Due to its densely populated surface—villages, high-tension power lines, and roads—traditional caving methods were deemed unsafe.
With paste filling, mining can now proceed without disturbing the surface. This success could revive operations in several land-constrained underground mines across India, enhancing both safety and output.
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