Rajmahal coalfield

Summary

The Rajmahal Coalfield is a large coalfield located in Jharkhand in eastern India.

Rajmahal Coalfield
Location
Rajmahal Coalfield is located in Jharkhand
Rajmahal Coalfield
Rajmahal Coalfield
Jharkhand
CountryIndia
Coordinates25°2′35″N 87°20′39″E / 25.04306°N 87.34417°E / 25.04306; 87.34417
Production
ProductsPower grade coal
Owner
CompanyEastern Coalfields Limited

Geography edit

 
 
 
15km
10miles
 
R
A
J
M
A
H
A
L
H
I
L
L
S
B
I
H
A
R
W
E
S
T
B
E
N
G
A
L
Dewdanr
R
Ganges
Sagarmpur
CT
Raghunandanpur
CT
Kumarpur
CT
Tin Pahar
CT
Patra
CT
Borio
CT
Berhait Santali
CT
Berhait Bazar
CT
Barharwa
CT
Sarauni
CT
Mahagama
CT
Rajmahal coalfield
Sakrigali
H
Moti Jharna
H
Teliagarhi
H
Bhognadih
H
Pakur
M
Sahebganj
M
Rajmahal
M
Godda
M
Panchuara
R
Pakuria
R
Maheshpur
R
Litipara
R
Hiranpur
R
Amrapara
RV
Udhwa
R
Taljhari
R
Ranga
R
Radhanagar
R
Pathna
R
Mirzachauki
R
Mandro
Damin Bazar
R
Kotalpokhar
R
Sunderpahari
R
Rajabhita
R
Pathargama
R
Parsa
R
Motia
R
Mehrma
R
Lalmatia
R
Hanwara
R
Dhamri
R
Belbadda
R
Basantrai
R
Poraiyahat
R
Bara Boarijore
R
  
Cities, towns and locations in the Sahibganj, Godda and Pakur districts in Santhal Pargana Division
M: municipality, CT: census town, R: rural/ urban centre, H: historical/ religious/ tourist centre
Owing to space constraints in the small map, the actual locations in a larger map may vary slightly

Location edit

Rajmahal coalfield is centred around 25°2′35″N 87°20′39″E / 25.04306°N 87.34417°E / 25.04306; 87.34417.

Area of Operations edit

Five relatively small coal basins – Hura, Chuperbhita, Pachwara, Mahuagarhi and Brahmani - compose the Rajmahal Coalfields. They form a sort of a broken chain along the western flank of the Rajmahal Hills in the north to West Bengal's Birbhum district in the south. The main advantage of this coalfield is that much of its reserves are untouched.[1] Another description shows the Rajmahal area as being composed of the following: Hura, Gilhuria and Jilbari, Chuparbhita, Pachwara and Brahmani.[2]

Reserves edit

According to Geological Survey of India, reserves of coal as on 1.1.2004 in Rajmahal Coalfield were 13.13 billion tonnes. It was the third highest reserve in Jharkhand, after Jharia Coalfield (19.4 billion tonnes) and North Karanpura Coalfield (14.6 billion tonnes). While Raniganj Coalfield is the major producer of superior quality non-coking coal, Rajmahal is one of the coalfields that has power-grade coal at shallow depth (up to 300 m).[3]

Rajmahal open cast and other projects edit

A major coal mining project of Eastern Coalfields Limited (Rajmahal open-cast project, a part of Rajmahal coalfield) is going on in Boarijore, Mahagama and Sunderpahari CD Blocks of Godda district in Jharkhand.[4] Rajmahal open-cast project (earlier known as Lalmatia Colliery) supplies coal to the 2,100 MW Farakka Super Thermal Power Station and the 2,340 MW Kahalgaon Super Thermal Power Station.[5]

As of 2020, major activity is going on near Mahagama town and Lalmatia village. Please see the satellite view of the Google map.

The Rajmahal Opencast project came up in the early 1980s with an annual cpapcity of 5 million tonnes. The capacity was raised to 10.5 million tonnes with Canadian collaboration in 1994. The capacity is being expanded to 17 million tonnes.[6]

EMIL the mining arm of the Aditya Birla Group has been involved in the functioning of Rajmahal Opencast Mines of Eastern Coalfields. Mining operations started in July 2013. It is expected to produce 200 million tonnes of coal over 12.5 years.[7] With the involvement of the Essel Mining and Industries Limited (EMIL) in the Rajmahal Opencast project, supplies to the 2,340 MW Kahalgaon Super Thermal Power Station and the 2,100 MW Farakka Super Thermal Power Station of NTPC were expected to improve.[8]

Simlong and Chatkam collieries and other nearby collieries of Rajmahal coalfield are operated by Eastern Coalfields Limited in Littipara CD block.[9]

Panem Coal operates the Pachhwara Central project with reserves of 562 million tonnes of coal at Panchuara.[10]

References edit

  1. ^ "Appendix 2 Description of the major coalfields of India". The Rajmahal Group of Collieries - Abstracted from the Coal Atlas of India published in 1993. Global CCS Institute. Retrieved 24 January 2016.
  2. ^ "Distribution of Coal in India". Posted on March 2, 2008 by Editor in Coal Industry News. Coal Geology and Mining Consulting Services. Retrieved 24 January 2016.
  3. ^ "Coal Resources of India" (PDF). As on 1.1.2004. Coal Wing, Geological Survey of India, Kolkata. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 March 2012. Retrieved 24 January 2016.
  4. ^ "Godda District Official website". Profile. Godda district administration. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 12 February 2016.
  5. ^ "Raj Mahal Coal Mines". Source Watch. Retrieved 12 February 2016.
  6. ^ "Godda - About District". Economy. Government of Jharkhand. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  7. ^ "Coal mining". Aditya Birla EMIL. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  8. ^ "Essel steps into Rajmahal". The Telegraph, 26 April 2012. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
  9. ^ "List of Mining Leases Area-wise" (PDF). Littipara Circle. Pakur District Administration. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 October 2013. Retrieved 17 January 2016.
  10. ^ "Pachhwara (Central) coal mine". Global Energy Monitor. Retrieved 25 November 2020.