Bokaro and Kargali to Get New Coal Plants with 12M Capacity

Union Minister of State for Coal and Mines, Satish Chandra Dubey, has laid the foundation stone for two major coal handling plants in the Bokaro and Kargali regions of Central Coalfields Limited (CCL)—the Karo Coal Handling Plant and the Konar Coal Handling Plant—with a combined annual handling capacity of 12 million tonnes. The initiative is expected to significantly improve coal transportation and support the government's energy goals.

The Karo Coal Handling Plant, with a capacity of 7 million tonnes per annum, and the Konar Coal Handling Plant, capable of handling 5 million tonnes per annum, are designed to streamline and revolutionize coal transport in the region. These plants are crucial for achieving the government's First Mile Rail Connectivity project, which focuses on enhancing the efficiency of coal transportation from mines to the nearest railway circuits.

The foundation ceremony saw the attendance of several dignitaries, including Giridih MP Chandra Prakash Chaudhary, Bermo MLA Kumar Jayamangal (Anoop Singh), Coal India Limited Chairman PM Prasad, and CCL Chairman and Managing Director Nilendu Kumar Singh, along with senior CCL officials, workers' union representatives, and other stakeholders. In his address, Minister Dubey highlighted the strategic importance of these projects for optimizing coal transportation networks, underscoring their role in supporting India's growing energy needs.

The Konar Coal Handling Plant, built at a cost of Rs322 crore, is equipped with modern infrastructure including a hopper, crusher, a 10,000-tonne capacity storage bunker, and a 1.6 km conveyor belt. The plant will facilitate the rapid transfer of coal to railway wagons through a 1,000-tonne capacity silo bunker, reducing the rake loading time from five hours to just one hour, thereby expediting coal dispatch operations.

Similarly, the Karo Coal Handling Plant, which has an investment of Rs 410 crore, includes a 15,000-tonne storage bunker, a 1 km conveyor belt, and a 4,000-tonne capacity silo bunker. This facility will also cut loading time to one hour, ensuring faster coal transport. These developments are expected to enhance coal dispatch efficiency, supporting India's growing energy demands while modernizing the transportation infrastructure.