NLCIL to Produce M-Sand from Overburden; Focuses on Sustainable Mining & Creation of ‘Wealth from Waste’

NEW DELHI- NLC India Limited (NLCIL), the Navratna- Government of India enterprise is all set to start production of ‘M- Sand’ from Overburden, the core material used in civil construction.

This initiative is based on promoting sustainable practices under the mentorship of the Ministry of Coal for maximizing the utilization of natural resources and minimizing the impact on river Eco System.

During Opencast Mining, the Overburden sandstone is removed as waste to extract Lignite and the overburden is kept in dumps.

NLCIL and IIT Chennai made extensive study for conversion of overburden sandstone into IS 383: 2016 M-sand and found suitable for construction.

NLCIL will produce about 2.62 Lakh Cubic Meters of M-Sand from Overburden annually under Build Own- Operate (BOO) business model from Lignite Mine-IA. In this regard, Contract is awarded on 31.03.2023 for establishing M-Sand Plant. NLCIL plans to establish similar plants at Lignite Mine-I and Lignite Mine-II.

Necessary statutory clearances have been obtained from Central Government. This project is first of its kind in Lignite Mining Industry.

NLC India Limited has been a forerunner amongst the Public Sector Enterprises in the country in the energy sector, contributing to a lion's share in lignite production and significant share in thermal and renewable energy generation.

The Company was incorporated on 14.11.1956. NLCIL is a Navratna Government of India Enterprise, under the administrative control of Ministry of Coal. Today, the company has set its footprints in PAN India mode in the states of TamilNadu, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Jharkhand and Andaman & Nicobar Islands.

A pioneer among the Public Sector Undertakings in energy sector, NLCIL operates 3 opencast Lignite Mines of total installed capacity 30 Million Tonnes Per Annum (MTPA) at Neyveli, one opencast Lignite Mine at Barsingsar in Rajasthan with an installed capacity of 2.10 MTPA and an open cast coal mine at Talabira in Odisha with an installed capacity of 20 MTPA.

The Company is also operating 4 Lignite based pit-head Thermal Power Stations with an aggregate capacity of 3390 Mega Watt (MW) at Neyveli and one 250 MW Lignite based Thermal Power Station (BTPS) at Barsingsar, Rajasthan. A 1000 MW Coal based Thermal Power Station is also in operation at Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu through its subsidiary company, NLC Tamilnadu Power Limited (NTPL), a Joint Venture between NLCIL and TANGEDCO (equity participation in the ratio of 89:11).

NLCIL has also forayed into renewable energy sector. Presently, the Company is operating 1370 MW of Solar Power Plants in various Districts of Tamilnadu and Andaman & Nicobar Islands and 51 MW Wind Power Plant in Tirunelveli district of Tamilnadu. NLCIL is the first CPSE to cross 1 GW capacity in Solar Power Generation in the country. Now the Company has become a member of International Solar Alliance (ISA). NLCIL is aiming to achieve a total Renewable energy capacity of 6031MW by 2030.

NLCIL has big dreams to become a 17,171 MW company by 2030. Towards realizing this dream, NLCIL is already on expansion mode. NLCIL's JV with the Uttar Pradesh Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Limited (UPRVUNL) is setting up a 3x660 MW Coal based Thermal Power Station at Ghatampur in UP. Talabira-II & III Coal Mine (20 MTPA) in Odisha

NLCIL has entered into coal mine projects and has been allotted Talabira-II & III OCP of 20 MTPA capacity in Odisha and Pachwara South Coal Block of 9 MTPA capacity in Jharkhand.

Coal production in Talabira-II & III OCP (20 MTPA) was commenced on 26.04.2020 & mines attained COD on 01.04.2021. The Mine started to supply coal to its end use Plant, NTPL TPS, Thoothukudi and now supplies coal to NTPC Thermal Power Stations.

Project activities are in full swing at Pachwara South Coal Block (9 MTPA) with an anticipated commissioning by 2023-24. A coal-based pit-head TPS of 3200 MW at Talabira by way of installation of new plants is under implementation.