LAGATAR24 NETWORK
Ranchi, June 3: NTPC Coal Mining has started this year’s coal production on a high note after finishing a successful year with coal production of 14.02 million MT in FY 2021-22, a year-on-year increase of 36% from FY 2020-21. Pakri Barwadih (Jharkhand), Dulanga (Odisha), and Talaipalli (Chhattisgarh) are the three active coal mines that have contributed to this incredible feat of 16 lakh tonnes, the greatest ever coal production for a month since the start of coal production. Leading from the front, Pakri Barwadih coal mine produced the greatest monthly coal production of 10 lakh tonnes since its inception in May 2022.
NTPC’s coal mining journey has been marked by a series of setbacks, including land acquisition, rehabilitation and resettlement, the disturbing times of the COVID-19 pandemic, and agitation by local people, all of which have hampered the company’s ability to meet its coal production targets.
However, due to steadfast leadership, a resilient workforce, and support from the District and State Administration, the prior two months of FY 2022-23 saw a year-on-year increase of 43 percent when compared to FY 2021-22. May’22 saw a year-over-year increase of 81 percent when compared to May’21.
In NTPC, safety comes first, followed by coal output. This is the NTPC Coal Mining Team’s motto for all of its projects. NTPC has established and executed a Safety Management Plan (SMP) for all of its coal mines in accordance with the Director General of Mine Safety (DGMS) standards. The digitalization of SMP (e-SMP) was done in-house by NTPC and successfully deployed in its active mines as a one-of-a-kind effort. Since July 21, NTPC Coal Mining management has committed to conducting at least one training programme every week on topics like safety, best mining practices, equipment operation and maintenance, and so on, in order to focus on competency building across all verticals.
Dust suppression and water-sprinkling systems have been installed in the working areas to help eliminate environmental injustices. Continuous monitoring of emissions, SOx, NOx, particulate matter, and other pollutants are carried out, and tree planting is carried out wherever possible. In these mines, the transition from diesel-powered HEMMs to electric-powered HEMMs has begun.
Following Benjamin Franklin’s advice, “An investment in knowledge pays the best interest,” NTPC is providing skill development training to coal mining project-affected people in order to help them find work. Through the Jharkhand Government Mini Tool Room and Training Center, NTPC Pakri-Barwadih has partnered with the Government of Jharkhand to manage the NTPC Mining Industrial Training Institute (MAITI), which was built in the Pakri-Barwadih mining region (JGMTRTC).
As part of its backward integration strategy, NTPC entered the coal mining industry, and its operational mines have delivered more than 48 million metric tonnes of coal to NTPC’s more than 22 thermal units. Because of its consistent quality, size, and lack of shale/boulder, captive coal mine coal is highly sought after by NTPC power plants. NTPC Coal Mining has so far delivered despite all odds and will continue to assure a steady supply of coal to its power plants in order to provide inexpensive and reliable power to its stakeholders.
