The management of Singareni Collieries Company Ltd (SCCL) has outlined its strategy to extract 20 million tonnes of coal in the upcoming fiscal year from four new opencast mines – Naini (Odisha), VK, Rompedu, and Goleti – which are set to be operational later this year.

According to the coal company authorities, approximately 90% of the work on these new mines has already been completed, and efforts will be intensified to finish the remaining tasks, aiming for commissioning in December. Although the commencement of mining is scheduled for this fiscal year, the target of extracting 20 million tonnes is projected to be achieved in the subsequent financial year.

The authorities confirmed that all necessary clearances and approvals have been obtained for the Naini mine in Odisha. However, work on establishing a coal handling plant (CHP) and a railway siding from the CHP to the main railway line is yet to be finalized. Arrangements, including contracts for transporting the mined coal from the mine to the railway siding, will be concluded soon.

Minor issues related to relief and rehabilitation and the removal of trees are still pending, but it is anticipated that all pending work will be wrapped up by December, enabling production to commence in January. The Naini coal mine is also projected to contribute 10 million tonnes of coal to the planned 20 million tonnes to be extracted from the new mines in the upcoming year.