Rs. 7040 Cr pact signed between SECL & TMC

South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL) is set to become the first coal PSU in India to adopt paste fill technology for coal mining—marking a major step towards sustainable and environmentally friendly mining practices.

To implement this innovative underground mining technology, SECL has signed a Rs. 7040 crore agreement with TMC Mineral Resources Private Limited.

Under this agreement, large-scale coal production will be undertaken using paste fill technology in the Singhali underground coal mine located in SECL’s Korba area.

Over a period of 25 years, the project is expected to produce approximately 8.4 million tonnes (84.5 lakh tonnes) of coal.

What is Paste Fill Technology?

Paste filling is a modern underground mining method that eliminates the need to acquire surface land. After coal extraction, the mined-out voids are filled with a specially prepared paste made from fly ash, crushed overburden from opencast mines, cement, water, and binding chemicals.

This process prevents land subsidence and ensures the structural stability of the mine. Importantly, the paste utilizes industrial waste materials, making the process environmentally sustainable and promoting waste recycling.

Speaking on the occasion, SECL CMD Mr. Harish Duhan said “I firmly believe that paste fill technology will not only secure the future of underground mining but also offer an innovative, eco-friendly solution.”