【New Delhi】Petroleum & Natural Gas minister M Veerappa Moily's takeover of the environment & forests ministry last month, it appears, is turning out to be a blessing for Coal India Ltd (CIL), the world's largest coal producer.
The new environment norms will, from 2014-15, allow CIL to add to its output at least 40 million tonnes (mt), or nine per cent of its estimated production in 2013-14.
The ministry, under Moily, has cleared major CIL projects, including subsidiary Central Coalfields' Kathara open cast mine, which had been awaiting clearance since 2008. Other CIL projects — Western Coalfields' Chhinda expansion, Bhakra underground and Ukni deep-opencast projects; and Bharat Coking Coal's Dhanbad project — will also benefit from the new rules.
Besides, the ministry has also increased the cap on one-time capacity expansion of small coal mining projects from 25 per cent to 50 per cent. This will help CIL kickstart, without local public hearing, its pending projects involving 50 per cent capacity expansion. "The move will allow Coal India to produce an extra 40 mt of coal," a senior CIL executive told Business Standard.
【News source】
Moily touch to add 40 mt to Coal India's production
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