Coal public sector undertakings in India are scaling up their operations to convert their mining waste into valuable resources in the economic value chain, giving circularity a considerable fillip.
According to a coal ministry, these PSUs are commissioning six overburden processing plants in different installation stages.
Considered mining waste, overburden or OB is the layer of oil, rock, and materials above a coal seam or ore body, which can be converted into manufactured sand or yield valuable resources such as clay, limestone, and rare earth elements.
Manufactured sand or M-sand can be used in construction projects, reducing the dependency on river sand and preventing environmental degradation.
“Processing OB to produce M-Sand not only generates significant revenue for coal companies but also supports local economies by offering cheaper, high-quality sand for construction,” revealed the report of the high-powered expert committee on gainful utilization of overburden in the coal sector.
Released on Tuesday, the report found the commercial sale of this M-sand is expected to generate significant revenue for coal companies and support local economies.
Purpose in Repurpose
The committee added that the coal or lignite PSUs have already commissioned four OB processing plants and five OB-to-M-sand pilot plants.
“Effective OB utilization reclaims land for productive uses like agriculture or infrastructure by reducing the need for OB dumps. By decreasing dependence on river sand for construction industries, OB processing also protects ecosystems from erosion and degradation,” the report said.
Additionally, OB contains clay, limestone, and rare earth elements, which can support infrastructure development and other industries.
“Several successful pilot plants have demonstrated the viability of this initiative, contributing to environmental sustainability and fostering community engagement, trust, and well-being,” the added added.
The report was released by Union Coal Minister G. Kishan Reddy during the Half-Yearly Review of the Coal Sector in New Delhi in the presence of Minister of State Satish Chandra Dubey, Coal Secretary Vikram Dev Dutt and senior officials from coal PSUs.
The launch of this report marks a crucial step in the coal sector’s journey towards a circular economy, where waste is minimized and resources are maximized.
The Ministry of Coal, in collaboration with various stakeholders, is committed to implementing the recommendations of the HPEC report, with a focus on benefiting the environment, the economy, and the communities surrounding coal mining regions.
