Mining methods in India

Top coal miner Coal India has reportedly entered into a joint venture with fellow miner, state-owned NLC India, to close smaller operations and “aggressively” engage in solar energy as it watches its core commodity continue its downward trend. COAL INDIA LTD. plans to invest about 60 billion rupees (US$825.8 million) in a 3,000-megawatt solar capacity project by March 2024. Its partner will earmark US$1.73 billion (125 billion rupees). CIL said it will continue to close small mines and avoid any new project openings that would require mass hirings. According to  Reuters , the operator has already sliced 18,600 jobs over a three-year period through March 2020 when it idled 82 mining operations. Further workforce reductions will be seen, he told the wire service, at the rate of 13,000 to 14,000 per year, and that saved capital will be put into its solar mission. "Coal as you know, we're going to lose business in the next two, three decades," Agarwal told the news agency. ...

CIL has "put special thrust on energy efficiency measures" in a bid to reduce its carbon footprint and has drawn up a five-year plan to offset carbon emissions in all its coal producing companies. CIL accounts for over 80% of domestic coal output through its seven wholly owned subsidiaries. The statement said that coal companies have several areas for implementing energy efficiency measures "such as colonies, buildings, offices and industrial establishments apart from efficient power supply management." However, it noted that the major opportunity for reduction in carbon emissions comes from heavy earthmoving machines, transport, ventilation and pumping. With the help of its subsidiaries, CIL has been taking various energy conservation and efficiency measures over the years and now plans to move ahead with emphasis on activities responsible for more environment pollution. It plans to replace its large fleet of diesel-powered heavy earthmoving machines with equipment...