Sustainable mining: Coal India Ltd off blocks in hunt for green energy

The corporate labored out the back and forth integration course of – from producing photo voltaic photovoltaic modules to promoting the generated energy – earlier than it threw its hat into photo voltaic bidding in Gujarat.

The facility buy settlement (PPA) signed just lately between the Coal India Ltd (CIL) and Gujarat Urja Vikash Nigam Ltd (GUVNL) for provide of solar energy to Gujarat, although small in measurement because it pertains to a 100-MW plant within the state, marks an vital milestone in its journey in direction of turning into a carbon-neutral firm.

The PPA, signed for a tenure of 25 years, materialised after reverse public sale bidding, with CIL quoting the bottom tariff of Rs 2.20 per unit amongst 10 bidders, which included skilled gamers like NTPC and SJVNL. The coal producer’s foray into photo voltaic technology would entail the event of a 100-MW solar energy plant at an expenditure of Rs 442 crore within the state. The PPA signed in direction of the tip of final month stipulates the 100-MW photo voltaic plant being operationalised and supplying energy to GUVNL inside 18 months of the inking of the settlement.

Coal India is executing the challenge by means of a photo voltaic EPC contractor, with the tender for a similar having been issued. “The finalisation of the contractor is at an advance stage and the challenge might be executed inside a yr of the date of placement of the work order,” a CIL official says.

The corporate’s renewable foray is part of its diversification agenda of turning into a carbon-neutral firm by 2024, even because it will increase its coal output to 1 billion tonne. The mining behemoth plans to energy its mining operations by means of a 3,000-MW photo voltaic portfolio, which would come with 14 ground-mounted and rooftop initiatives, thereby lowering its carbon footprint. It has earmarked an funding of Rs 13,400 crore to create a photo voltaic portfolio of three,000 MW by 2024.

Two subsidiaries, CIL Photo voltaic PV Restricted and CIL Navakarniya Urja Ltd, have been set as much as push the inexperienced vitality agenda. Whereas CIL Photo voltaic PV Ltd will develop photo voltaic photovoltaic modules and comparable different merchandise, including to the worth chain, CIL Navikarniya Urja Ltd is remitted to develop non-conventional, clear, renewable vitality sources, together with solar energy.

The corporate labored out the back and forth integration course of – from producing photo voltaic photovoltaic modules to promoting the generated energy – earlier than it threw its hat into photo voltaic bidding in Gujarat. “We really feel upbeat about rising the winner in our maiden aggressive bidding for solar energy. We’ll aggressively take part in additional such auctions sooner or later,” an organization official says.

The 2 new subsidiaries floated by CIL add to the eight already in existence. The corporate subscribed to the shares of the brand new subsidiaries at a face worth of Rs 10 every. As starter firms, the 2 subsidiaries are zero-value firms with capital work in progress. That is alleged to have an effect on CIL’s Rs 32,138-crore internet value, although official sources deny any such impression, with investments being made because the renewable initiatives progress. The investments could be made by means of a mixture of inner accruals, JVs and financial institution loans, the CIL official says, including these would yield the corporate wealthy dividends given the prospects for renewable vitality within the nation.

Apart from photo voltaic technology, the corporate’s diversification agenda consists of implementation of coal to liquid initiatives, floor coal gasification, a rise within the variety of washeries and mechanised transportation. Taken collectively, these would go a good distance in mitigating the environmental harm brought on by mining operations. A complete funding of Rs 26,000 crore has been lined up by the corporate for the aim.