Rapid Fire
Gevra and Kusmunda Among World's Largest Coal Mines
- 19 Jul 2024
- 2 min read
Recently, Chhattisgarh-based Coal India Limited (CIL) subsidiary South Eastern Coalfields Limited’s (SECL) Gevra and Kusmunda coal mines have secured the 2nd and 4th spot in the list of the world’s 10 largest coal mines released by WorldAtlas.com.
- Located in the Korba district, Chhattisgarh these two mines produce more 100 million tons of coal annually accounting for about 10% of India’s total coal production.
- Gevra is one of the megaprojects of SECL and became the largest coal mine in the country in 2023 with annual production for FY 22-23 reaching 52.5 million tons and 59 million tons in FY 23-24. Kusmunda mine produced over 50 million tons in FY 23-24.
- These mines use advanced mining machines like the "Surface Miner" for eco-friendly coal extraction without blasting.
- For overburden removal (the process of removing layers of soil, stone etc. to expose the coal seam), the mines use some of the world’s largest HEMMs (Heavy Earth Moving Machinery) along with Vertical Rippers for environment-friendly and blast-free OB removal.
- CIL a Maharatna company, was established in November 1975 and has since become the largest coal producer in the world. It operates under the Coal Mines (Nationalisation) Act, of 1973, which gives it a monopoly over coal mining and distribution in the country.
Read more: Coal India and CCI
