Indian Coal Exploration Scenario

Abstract

The Indian Coal Mining Industry, which now ranks 5th in the world, was started in 1975. After initial sporadic efforts the thrust for coal exploration was given only after independence. The real impetus to the exploration was received after industrialisation of the coal industry in 1971–72 and 1973–74. The National Policy of coal exploration is well defined and is subjected to national level co-ordination by the Planning Commission of the country.

For the purpose of exploration, coalfields have been divided into types which consider basinal area of coalfields and category-based on coverage by exploration of potential coal bearing areas. About seventy four coalfields are covered under various exploration systems. India has a three tier system of coal exploration viz. regional, detailed and production support exploration. Most modern techniques are being employed for coal exploration including remote-sensing, HRSS, well logging, geo-engineering investigations, physico-chemical and physico-mechanical studies, hydrogeological investigations and computer applications. The National Coal Inventory placed the reserves of the nation at about 196 billion tonnes which could be augmented by further exploration to about 239 billion tonnes. To this about, 620 billion tonnes of futuristic resources could also be added in the distant future.