Baikunthpur. The discovery of a new coking coal reserve in Chhattisgarh’s Korea district is expected to give a major boost to industrial development in the state. The reserve has been found in Labji–Pusla village of the Sonhat forest block, following which a proposal has been sent to Coal India for opening a new coal mine. Once approval is granted, around 3 million tonnes of coking coal per year will be supplied to steel industries.
For the past several years, surveys have been conducted in various gram panchayats of the Sonhat block with the help of CMPDI and MECL. During this exploration, high-quality coking coal was confirmed in the Labji–Pusla area. Coking coal is a critical raw material for steel production, making this discovery strategically important.
Plan for 12-kilometre Flyover Conveyor Belt
According to SECL, coal extracted from the new mine will be transported to steel plants through railway rakes. Land has already been finalized for a new coal siding near Nagar railway station. However, the existing road connecting the mine to the railway station is narrow and accident-prone. Keeping safety in mind, plans are underway to construct a 12-kilometre-long flyover conveyor belt from the mine to the railway siding. Experts are currently preparing a report evaluating both the conveyor belt and road transport options.
Production for 25–30 Years, Employment Opportunities to Rise
After Coal India’s approval, the new coking coal mine is expected to operate for 25 to 30 years, with an annual production capacity of 3 million tonnes. This will ensure long-term supply to steel industries and significantly increase employment opportunities in the Sonhat region and nearby areas.
What is Coking Coal?
Coking coal is a special type of bituminous coal that, when heated in the absence of oxygen, turns into a hard, porous, and strong material known as coke. Coke plays a vital role in steel manufacturing, where it is used as both a fuel and a reducing agent in blast furnaces to produce pig iron.
Awaiting Coal India’s Approval
SECL Baikunthpur Area General Manager B. N. Jha stated that a new coking coal reserve has been identified in Labji–Pusla village and the process to open a new mine has begun. Once approval is received from Coal India, mining operations will start, producing 3 million tonnes of coking coal annually for supply to steel industries.