COAL RESERVES IN INDIA



Coal Reserve
        Total 257.38 BT

A total of 257.38 billion tonnes of coal reserves are estimated by GSI as on 1.1.2007 of which the "Prime" coking coal are 5.313 billion tonnes, medium and semi-coking coals are 27.04 billion tonnes and non-coking coals are 225.03 billion tonnes.

The Major Coalfields of India


Major Coalfields
Sl. No. Coalfield Company
1. SINGRAULI NCL
2. KARANPURA BOKARO CCL
3. JHARIA BCCL
4. ASSAM & MEGHALAYA NEC
5. RANIGANJ ECL
6. IB & TALCHER MCL
7. CENTRAL INDIA SECL
8. PENCH & KANHAN WCL
9. CHANDA & WARDHA WCL
10. GODAVARI VELLEY SCCL
11. LIGNITE NLC
12. LIGNITE, GUJRAT AND RAJASTHAN

COALFIELD IN ORISSA
(Geological Reserve 62.00 B.T.)


Out of 47 Gondawana & 14 Tertiary coalfields for the national inventory of coal, Orissa state has only two coalfields. Yet its share in the reserve are so far established in the country amounts to 24.57%( 63.23).


In Terms of spatial spread of prognostical coal bearing area, the coalfields of the state of Orissa have about 7.6% area (2723 Sq.Km). This goes to illustrate the high ratio of coal to non coal strata in the two hitherto known coal bearing basin viz.lb River coalfield and Talcher coalfield. As a sequel to which threse coalfields have an added advantage of being accorded most favoured coalfields status by the nature as far as quarriable potentiality is concerned.

Historically Talcher coalfield was discovered by Lt. kittoe in 1839 and lb River coalfield by V.Ball in 1871 yet the real impetus for resource assesment by systematic exploration efforts was accorded only in the post nationalisation era of the coal industry since 1973, the importance of Orissa coalfields further enhanced due to their vicinity to east coast.

COALFIELD of ORISSA


Talcher Coalfield
(Geological Reserve 40.87 B.T. As on 01.01.2007)



Talcher Coalfield was first discovered at Gopalprasad in the 1837. Lateron GSI surveyed and mapped in 1855. M/s East India Prospecting Syndicate in Talcher Town in 1920 Handidhua Colliary was opened by M/s Villiers Ltd in 1921. NCDC opened mines at South Belanda, Nandira & Jagannath in the year 1960,1962 and 1972 respectively. After formation of CIL all mines were in CCL then in SECL before formation of MCL in 1992. Production of coal raised from 0.91 M.T. in 1972-73 to 53.67 M.T. in 2007-08.

 


IB Valley Coalfield
(Geological Reserve 22.36 B.T. As on 01.01.2007)


IB Valley Coalfield was first discovered by B N Railway while constructing bridge over lb river in the year 1900. M/S Himgir Rampur Coal company opened colliery in the year 1909. Many more mines were opened in the year 1940, 1954 and after the nationalisation of coal mines the mines came under WCL. Later on it came under SECL and then under MCL in the year 1992 after its formation. Production of this field was 0.55 M.T. in 1972-73 which has increased  upto 34.34 M.T. in the year 2007-08