Research Work in Coal Sector

The Government of India through its Coal Science & Technology (S&T) scheme and Coal India Limited (CIL) through its Research & Development (R&D) scheme undertake R&D activities for improvement in production, productivity and safety in coal mines, coal beneficiation and utilization, protection of environment and ecology and other related activities. This was stated by Shri Piyush Goyal, Minister of State (IC) for Power, Coal & New and Renewable Energy (IC) in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha today . R&D activities are administered through Standing Scientific Research Committee (SSRC headed by Secretary (Coal) and R&D Board of CIL headed by Chairman, CIL.

The Minister further stated since introduction of research funding of Ministry of Coal [MoC] and Coal India Limited, a large number of research projects have been carried out by various academic and research institutes related to the coal and allied industries with active participation of coal and lignite mining companies. Many of these projects have yielded considerable benefits, resulting in operational improvement, safer working conditions, better resource recovery and protection of the achievement.

Informing the Members, the Minister stated that at present, there are 34 on-going research projects with total outlay of more than Rs. 200 Cr at various academic and research institutions in association with coal and lignite producing companies. Under the above R&D scheme, different Government academic/research institutions are involved in the researchwork in coal sector. A few of the  Government academic/research institutions which have undertaken the research work for the last three years are given below:

1.      Anna University, Chennai

2.      Birsa Agricultural University, Ranchi

3.      Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi

4.      Central Electro Chemical Research Institute, Karaikudi

5.      Central Institute of Mining and Fuel Research, Dhanbad

6.      Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute, Durgapur

7.      Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur

8.      Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology, Shibpur

9.      Institute of Mineral and Materials Technology, Bhubneshwar

10.  Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad

11.  National Geophysical Research Institute, Hyderabad

12.  National Institute of Technology, Surathkal

13.  National Institute of Technology Tiruchirappalli

14.  National Institute of Technology Rourkela

15.  National Institute of Rock Mechanics, Kolar

16.  The Energy and Resources Institutes, New Delhi

17.  North East Institute of Science and Technology, Jorhat

18.  Gujarat Energy Research and Management Institute, Gujarat

In Research projects, have been staff component which generally includes Project Coordinator, Project Leader and a few Senior Research Fellows / Junior Research Fellows / Research Associates are engaged by the concerned implementing agency to facilitate the research work. Adequate funds are earmarked annually by the Ministry of Coal (MoC) and Coal India Limited (CIL) to carry out research work in coal and lignite sector for the areas mentioned above.

The expenditure on R&D activities for the last three years and current year by CIL and through S&T grant of Ministry of Coal are as follows:-

(Rs. in Cr.)

Year	Expenditure
2012-13	22.75
2013-14	22.73
2014-15	29.68
2015-16 (Till date)	8.60

 For enhancing the research work needed to address the complexity of operations of the coal industry and for wider involvement of research institutes including private organizations with adequate infrastructure and expertise in India and abroad, requests are made from time to time, inviting research proposals for undertaking research work beneficial to the coal industry, the Minister added.

Courtesy: pib.nic.in