PM Modi to be briefed soon on making urea from coal: Piyush Goyal

Nagpur: A presentation will be made shortly before Prime Minister Narendra Modi on manufacture of urea from coal, Union Minister Piyush Goyal said Monday.

Union Minister for Shipping and Surface Transport Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister for State for Fertilizers Hansraj Ahir and myself will make a presentation before the Prime Minister, Goyal, who is the Minister for Coal and Renewable Energy, told reporters here.

He said the idea was floated by Ahir and the Coal Ministry will take it up.

"Fertilizer plants will be set up in coal bearing areas to be identified later", he said, adding that once the concept is through, the Ministry will process the proposal.

To a question, Goyal reluctantly admitted missing the half yearly target of coal production by Coal India Limited (CIL) of 229.54 million tonnes (MT) against 235.49 MT.

He, however, said CIL has set a target of 550 MT during the current fiscal which they will achieve.

"CIL has achieved one per cent growth and produced 32 MT coal additionally. Our target is to achieve 50 MT," he said.

Goyal was all praise for CIL subsidiary, Western Coalfields Limited for sustained development and opening 10 mines in this fiscal.

They will not only achieve a target of 24 new mines in 24 months but also this year's target of 45 MT coal production, he added.

On the renewable energy scenario said, the minister said 50 per cent of the defunct gas based power plants have been re-started and all efforts are on to start the Dabhol power plant by the central and Maharashtra government.

On LED bulbs, Goyal said as on today 2.14 crore units have been sold at a minimum price of Rs 90 against the purchase price of Rs 310.

The target of selling LED for next year is 15 crore bulbs, he added.

Meanwhile, Western Coalfields Limited (WCL) inaugurated its 4 million tonnes (MT) Dinesh and 2.75 MT Amalgamated Yekona I & II projects.

Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari, Power Minister Piyush Goyal, Chemicals & Fertilizers Minister Hansraj Ahir and Maharashtra Minister for Energy Chandrashekhar Bawankule today inaugurated the new mines in Makardhokra, Umrer Area of WCL, the company said in a statement.

The villagers were also given land compensation during the programme.

Goyal announced to ensure food requirements and to provide urea at cheap rates to the farmers it is proposed to prepare urea from coal.

He further said that these two new projects will add the capacity of 6.75 million tonnes (on full run) in annual production of WCL, out of which about 5.7 MT coal will be supplied to Mahagenco and other power houses, which will contribute additional 1,400 MW power generation to the nation.

Rest of the coal will be provided to other consumers.

These two projects are to provide job opportunities to about 1,773 eligible land oustees.

Dinesh and Yekna projects are planned to operate on total hiring basis, thus creating avenues for indirect employment in the jobs related to mining, civil, other allied works apart from opportunities for local vendors in meeting daily needs of workmen, supporting agencies and their families.

Economic activities in the surrounding areas will improve with enhanced cash flow in the market.

An initiative on Jal Sahaog K2K (Kamptee mine to Kanhan township) was launched by the ministers.

An initiative to meet 24X7 drinking water requirement of local populace through gainful utilisation of mine water discharge was launched in Nagpur area of WCL.

Discharged mine water from Kamptee open cast to be supplied after sedimentation and filtration with capex of Rs 43 lakhs will provide 24x7 drinking water to about 7,000 people of Kanhan-Pipri & Shivora village, under Kanhan Municipal Corporation, it added.