en.Wedoany.com Reported - On June 30, 2026, Manoj Kumar Agarwal, Chairman and Managing Director of Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL), India, inspected the fully mechanized coal mining (longwall mining) project in the XV seam at Moonidih Coal Mine in the Western Jharia coalfield. During the inspection, the Chairman and Managing Director reviewed the surface compatibility testing of the newly arrived fully mechanized equipment and inaugurated the ceremony for transporting hydraulic support components to the underground working area.
Moonidih Coal Mine is the sole coal-producing unit within the Moonidih coalfield block. The project began in 1964, initially as a mine under the National Coal Development Corporation (NCDC) of India, designed with Polish technical cooperation and a rated capacity of 2.1 million tons per year. Due to complex geological and mining conditions and stringent environmental factors, the rated capacity was subsequently reduced to 1.5 million tons per year, reaching a peak output of 1.2 million tons between 1988 and 1989. In 1978, the mine introduced powered support longwall (PSLW) mining technology for the first time in India, becoming a pioneer in PSLW mining technology in the country.
Moonidih Coal Mine is a deep shaft mine, currently operating at depths between 450 and 650 meters below the surface. It features high gas emission rates (classified as a Grade III gassy mine), high geothermal temperatures, and occasional encounters with high-temperature groundwater. The mine is equipped with high-power main ventilation fans and is studying more efficient ventilation solutions, such as installing centralized air conditioning systems to cool the ventilation airflow entering the mine. Coal transportation relies on belt conveyors, and an underground bunker system with a total capacity of approximately 1,800 tons has been established.
Notable features of Moonidih Mine also include shafts reaching depths of 545 and 560 meters (among the deeper coal mines in India), high-capacity hoists, an integrated coal washing plant, and a captive power plant. The advancement of the fully mechanized mining project in the XV seam marks a significant step for BCCL in strengthening underground mechanized coal mining and enhancing operational excellence.
