Telangana’s Singareni secures Manuguru coal block in Centre’s auction
Hyderabad, Aug 3 (TNT): Telangana Deputy Chief Minister and Energy Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka on Monday said Singareni Collieries Company Ltd. (SCCL) has secured the Manuguru PKOC-II Dip Side coal block in the Central Coal Ministry’s online auction, describing it as a major milestone for the state-owned miner and Telangana’s energy security.
In a statement, the Deputy Chief Minister said the latest success, coming close on the heels of the commencement of operations at the Naini coal block in Odisha and the grant of the mining lease for the Tadicherla-II block, marked another significant achievement for Singareni.
He said the Manuguru PKOC-II Dip Side block contains an estimated 120 million tonnes of G-8 grade coal and is capable of producing six million tonnes annually for 20 years, ensuring a steady supply of coal for the state’s power sector.
The project is also expected to provide employment security to around 2,000 people and sustain mining activity in the Manuguru region over the next two decades, he said.
Bhatti said the government had been working over the past 30 months to strengthen Singareni and secure new coal reserves for the company.
He noted that the Naini coal block had commenced production after the government resolved pending issues through consultations with stakeholders, while the Tadicherla-II block, pending for years despite approvals in 2013, had been revived after securing the required mining lease.
Alleging that the previous government had failed to safeguard Singareni’s interests, he said the present government had enabled the company to secure a coal block through competitive bidding after nearly 12 years.
The Deputy Chief Minister said the government would continue efforts to secure the Koyagudem-III and Sathupalli-III coal blocks for Singareni and was also preparing plans to expand the company’s operations by acquiring coal assets in other states and exploring critical mineral resources.
He congratulated the Singareni management, employees and trade unions on securing the Manuguru PKOC-II Dip Side block and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening the public sector mining company and ensuring Telangana’s long-term energy security.
TNT TS
