COAL RESERVES

The studies of Geological Survey of India attribute as much as 10,435 million tonnes of coal reserves to the Godavari Valley Coalfield. The inventory covers up to a depth of 1200 meters and it includes reserves confirmed, indicated as well as inferred. At least 3,731 million tonnes of inferred reserves are reported to be between 600 to 1200 meters of depth and, therefore, are the resources for future mining. There 4,597 million tonnes proven reserves out of which about 2,141 million tonnes are extractable. The extractable reserves are either already under exploitation or considered for project formulation. The indicated reserves of 677 million tonnes in shallow areas and 890 million tonnes in deeper areas are, while being considered for project formulation, yet to be fully explored with detailed drilling. SCCL has mined 275.70 million tonnes of Coal from the Godavari Valley field during the last 100 years (1889-1989). The Singareni Collieries Company Limited has a dominating presence on the national scene. Deposits in Singareni form 6% of the national reserves and account for a production of 10% of the output. SCCL has recorded 8.09% annual growth rate since 1974 when the coal industry was nationalised, as against the industry average of 5.90%. With a total investment of Rs. 2206 crores Singareni produced 25.2 million tones of coal in 1993-94 from 9 opencast mines and 57 underground mines. By the year 2000 AD the investment is expected to go up to Rs.5549 Crores and the Company Plans to produce 35 million tones of coal from 14 open cast mines and 85 underground mines.