INDIA has set an ambitious plan to augment coal production in the country and curtail coal imports in the next 3-4 years. But given the justified concern over the pollution caused by mining and allied activities, this is easier said than done. L&T has stepped in, helping the country realise its ambition for self-reliance in coal. L&T’s Odisha-based Kansbahal Works has developed a surface miner capable of extracting the black diamond from the earth’s womb while keeping the related pollution to the bare minimum.

 

The surface miner, christened L&T KSM-403, is capable of eco-friendly mining from in-situ deposit by eliminating the drilling and blasting processes. An L&T KSM-403 was recently commissioned at Kusmunda OCP of South Eastern Coalfields Ltd (SECL) located in Chhattisgarh’s Korba district. Mr Pramod Agrawal, chairman-cum-managing director of Coal India Ltd (CIL) and Mr A P Panda, CMD – SECL, were present on the occasion.

 

L&T is the first indigenous designer and manufacturer of surface miners, and entered this segment over 15 years ago. It has been manufacturing surface miners at its Kansbahal Works using indigenous technology, thus exemplifying the goal of Make in India and Aatmanirbhar Bharat.

 

Owing to eco-friendly features, L&T’s surface miners have a sizeable and growing installation base in Indian mines. SECL and its siblings Northern Coalfields Ltd and Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd, have on their own have already deployed 23 L&T surface miners across various projects. Another four machines are on their way to becoming operational soon.

 

In addition, 30 more L&T surface miners have been deployed in various CIL projects across India by various contractors. This ever-growing population of L&T surface miners will contribute significantly towards India’s ambitious coal production plan. These machines are also making strong inroads into the international markets, with exports to the Gulf and African countries.