Coal Mining in India

Piers Fennell
Derek Wilson
HISTORY OF INDUSTRY
HEALTH & SAFETY ISSUES
ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
FUTURE OF COAL IN INDIA
History - Timeline
First Indian mining operations begun in 1774.

Development of steam engine in 1850s spurred
coal demand.

World War I created another surge in demand.

National Coal Development Corporation (NCDC)
1956 formed.

Steel industry growth in 1950s and 1960s sent
coal demand to all time highs.

History Contd
Demand from steel industry led to significant
private investment in mining, mostly for
coking coal.

Growth in private mining led to following
comment by then Minister of Steel and Mines:

Rampant corruption, forced labour, dubious and duplicate
records, under reporting of production, non-payment of full
wages, extended hours of shift without payment of lead or
lift, lack of safety and welfare measuresseemed to be the
guiding principles of a large number of private collieries

Nationalization of the industry.
Coking Coal Mines Nationalization Act of 1972
Coal Mines Nationalization Act of 1973
Coal India Ltd

Coal India Limited
Governmentowned entity which owns and operates Indias mines.
Under Ministry of Coal.
8 mining subsidiaries, 1 mine siting and planning subsidiary.

Source: Coal India LTD.
Coal India Limited
Worlds largest coal mining company.
Responsible for approximately 85% of
total Indian production.
324 million tons in 2005.

1) Eastern Coalfields LTD
2) Bharat Coking Coal LTD
3) Central Coalfields LTD
4) Central Mine Planning
5) Northern Coalfields LTD
6) South Eastern Coalfields LTD
7) Western Coalfields LTD
8) Mahanadi Coalfields LTD
9) North Eastern Coalfields
Source: Coal India LTD.
HISTORY OF INDUSTRY
HEALTH & SAFETY ISSUES
ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
FUTURE OF COAL IN INDIA
Health & Safety Issues
Key risks faced by miners:
Gas and coal dust exposure.
Mine roof and wall collapses.
Mine fires.

Fatal and serious accidents have steadily
deceased since 1972 (see table).

Between 1950-1961 the 10-yearly avg. death
rate per 1,000 people employed was 0.91.
Between 1991-2000, figure dropped to 0.32.
Nationalization in 1970s.
Technological advancements, specifically the
mechanization of many tasks in the mining process
(i.e. mechanized roof bolting system, long wall
miners, etc).
Year Fatal Accidents Serious Accidents
Accidents Fatalities Accidents Injuries
1972 200 217 1534 1616
1975 222 664 2135 2211
1985 176 204 1007 1060
1993 156 176 854 903
1994 156 241 717 775
1995 137 219 757 813
1996 131 146 677 723
1997 143 165 677 725
1998 128 146 523 560
1999 127 138 595 650
2000 117 144 661 707
2001 106 141 667 720
2002 81 97 629 650
2003 83 113 563 578
2004 90 99 599 608
2005 34 35 340 344
Source: Government of India, Ministry of Coal.
Mines Act of 1952
Key piece of Indian legislation that regulates health, safety, and
welfare of miners.

Administered by Directorate General of Mines Safety (DGMS).
Falls under control of Ministry of Labour
DGMS mission:

Reduction in risk of occupational diseases and casualty to persons employed in mines, by
drafting appropriate legislation and setting standards, by overseeing compliance thereof and
through a variety of promotional initiatives and awareness programmes creating an
environment where safety is given due priority.

Among issues covered by the Mines Act are the following:
Appointment of Chief Inspector.
On-site medical care.
Sufficient potable water within mines.
Timely reporting of accidents to Chief Inspector.
Right of government to appoint of court of enquiry to look into accidents.


HISTORY OF INDUSTRY
HEALTH & SAFETY ISSUES
ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
FUTURE OF COAL IN INDIA
Key Environmental Legislation
Water Prevention and Pollution Control Act, 1974 (1988)

Forest Conservation Act, 1980

Air Prevention and Pollution Control Act, 1981

Environmental Protection Act, 1986

Mineral Conservation and Development Rules, 1957 (1987)

Mineral Conservation and Development Rules, 1988

Water Prevention and Pollution
Control Act, 1974 (1988)
Initiated the Pollution Control Boards and the Central Pollution
Control Board.

Power of entry and inspection in industrial establishments and
authority to take samples.

Empowered to set standards of effluents that may be discharged
into water sources.

Power to impose penalties for contravention of provisions.

Forrest Conservation Act, 1980
Legislation enacted to check deforestation.

Prohibits use of forest land for non-forest purposes (including
mining) without prior approval of the Central Government.

Reforestation or compensatory reforestation is primary condition for
approval of proposals for diversion of forest land.
Air Prevention and Pollution
Control Act, 1981
Act enjoins industry not to discharge emissions of any pollutant in
excess of standards established by State Board.

Establishes power to inspect and collect samples and vests power
with the Central and State Pollution Control Boards.

Environmental Protection Act, 1986
Act widens scope of environmental protection activities of Central
and State Boards.

Prohibits all pollution in excess of standards set by State Board.

Requires mandatory environmental audits.

Prohibits expansion or modernization of any existing industry or new
projects without prior environmental clearance by the Central or
State Government.




Mineral Conservation and
Development Act, 1957 (1987)
Act gives Government power to prevent a licensee or lease holder
from damaging the environment.

Act gives the Government power to require rehabilitation of
vegetation, trees, and shrubs destroyed by prospecting or mining.

Requires a mining plan to be submitted with an environmental
management plan.




Mineral Conservation and
Development Rules, 1988
Rules administered by the Indian Bureau of Mines, a department of
the Central Government under the Ministry of Mines.

Requires every mining operation to be in accordance with a mining
plan.

Requires review of approved mining plans every 5 years.

Requires every mine operator to take all possible precautions for
protection of environment and control of pollution while conducting
any mining activities.

Requires that the air, water, and noise pollution levels are within the
permissible limits.
Major Environmental Concerns
Air Quality




Water Regime




Impact on Land
Air Quality
Methane and Suspended Particulate Matter.
Mine Fires and the Combustion of Coal produces Carbon Dioxide,
Sulfur Dioxide, and Nitrogen Oxide.




Water Regime
Water Table Lowered and Water Waste.

Acid Mine Drainage (AMD).
Water + Sulphide Minerals = AMD.
Water Contamination.
Disrupts growth and reproduction of aquatic plants and animals.
Kills fish.
Corrosion of mining equipment and structures, such as barges, bridges, and concrete
materials.
Impact on Land
Large scale excavation.

Removal of topsoil.

Dumping of solid wastes.

Creation of derelict land.

Subsidence.

Noise and vibrations.
Pollution Mitigation
Dust extractors on drilling
equipment.

Sprinkler systems.

Effluent Treatment Plants.

Sewage Treatment Plants.
Land reclamation and
rehabilitation.

Siltation ponds.

Removed topsoil utilization.

Stoping-in worked out mines.

HISTORY OF INDUSTRY
HEALTH & SAFETY ISSUES
ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
FUTURE OF COAL IN INDIA
Future of Coal in India
Rapid population growth and skyrocketing demand for energy.

70% of coal consumption expected to be in electric power sector.

In 2003, coal-fired power plants consumed 5.0 quadrillion Btu of
coal, representing 69% of Indias total coal demand.

Future Energy Utilization
1999 (281 million tons of oil
Equivalent "Mtoe")
Oil
33%
Coal
56%
Nuclear
1%
Gas
7%
Hydro
3%
Coal Oil Gas Nuclear Hydro
2020 (716 Mtoe)
Gas
16%
Nuclear
1%
Hydro
2%
Coal
47%
Oil
34%
Coal Oil Gas Nuclear Hydro
Source: International Energy Agency
Future of Coal in India
Coal use for electricity generation projected to grow by 2.7% per
year, to 10.3 quadrillion Btu in 2030.

Coal-fired generating capacity projected to increase from 67 GW in
2003 to 161 GW in 2030.
Coal to Oil
Like China, India relies heavily on imported oil to meet demands.

Coal-to-liquids (CTL) projects have yet to be developed in India.

A CTL industry would represent a viable means of increasing oil
supply.

Indian Oil Corporation is currently evaluating construction of an
80,000-barrel-per-day coal liquefaction facility.