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Background

The coal reserves of North Eastern Region (NER) of India are distributed unevenly in the states of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya and Nagaland. Although, the reserves are rather insignificant in comparision to the total reserves of the country, these deposits have gained importance owing to their geographical location and different physico- chemical attributes.

Occurence of coal in this region was known since beginning of 19th century and systematic mining was initiated only in 1882 in upper Assam. The tea planters and railways mostly utilized the coals mined during that time.

The NER coals are unique in character by virtue of their low ash and high sulphur content, friable with strong caking characteristics in general.

The geological setting of these coals is highly complex due to the effect of large thrusts and folding. The deposits of NER coals occur in three distinct geo-tectonic provinces:

1. The premier Gondowana belts of Arunachal Pradesh.

2. The Eocene coal belts of Garo, Khasi and Jaintia Hills of Meghalaya and Karbi Anglong Hills of Assam

3. The Oligocene coalfields of Upper Assam, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh.Programme

Project & Purpose

The NER coals having different physico- chemical attributes unlike other Indian coals restrict their uses in the domestic as well as in the Industrial sectors and therefore offer challenging opportunities to develop suitable & sustainable technologies. Effective utilization of this high sulphur, less matured coal in industries encounter new challenges. It needs extensive R&D efforts to develop sustainable technologies for optimum utilization of the substaintial reserve of NE coals. Introduction of new techniques will strengthen innovative strategies for utilization of regional resources with cleaner environment.

Possible utilization of these coals in power sector as well as in cement and metallurgical industries adopting green technologies will add new dimension to the area of coal characterization, desulphurization and gainful utilization. The coal of the hour is for the strategic utilization of these coals through blending, beneficiation combustion, carbonization and desulphurization. Strong supportive R&D institutions, other related govt. institutions and industries have to come together to carry of the exercise to met the growing need of a quality fuel for power, cement, sponge iron, smelting reduction, foundry cokes and allied industries.

Now an R&D programme on Coal Characterization and Resource Quality Assessment for Specific end uses has been formulated by Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) as Network Project, funded by the Planning Commission, Govt. of India. CSIR with a chain of laboratories has undertaken this mega R&D programme in the form of different tasks to provide scientific & technological break throughs to the challenging problems encountered during utilization & processing. CFRI Dhandbad, RRL Jorhat, NML Jamshedpur and NCL Pune have been working together on different aspects of the programme leading to gainful utilization of this energy resource.

The mandate of the project is to promote efficient and rational utilization of this natural resource of this region. Major activities are quality assesment of the coals of different coal fields of the region, detailed scientific information on the mode of occurrence and distribution, their physico- chemical characteristics and potentialties; which will lead to gainful utilization of NE coals directly and or after siutably blending,developing appropriate technologies for carbonization/ combustion or sulphur removal by suitable processes and also recovery of precious and rare metals from pyretic waste. R&D programme executed in hands with other CSIR laboratories will fullfil the requirement of end users i.e the industries.

In order to accomplice the objective judiciously, an Interactive Meet/ Workshop with R&D laboratories and industries is arranged on 10th January, 2006 at Assam Administrative Staff College, Guwahati to discuss various aspects of coal utilization and related environmental problems. The views expressed in this Workshop/Meet will help in fulfilling the objectives of R&D programmes.

Participants

All the industries related to utilization and production of NE coals, consultants, equipment manufacturers, Govt. agencies and policy makers are requested to participate in the event and discuss the various aspects of characterization,resource quality assessment, utilizations and related environmental issues with the scientists/ technologists of the participating laboratories and other experts.Participants from industries are expected to express their views and suggestions so that the out come of the research is useful to industries directly.

Registration

There is no registration fee for participants, however, the names of the participants should be intimated by the respective organisation on or before 5th January, 2006, for making necessary arrangements.

Sponsorship of the programme is welcome.

Organizing Committee
Chairman
Dr P G Rao
Director, RRL Jorhat

Participating CSIR Laboratories
Prof S P Mehrotra
Director, NML, Jamshedpur

Dr S Sivaram
Director,NCL,Pune

Dr S K Hazra
Nodal Officer, Network Project
CFRI,Dhanbad

Mr P C Kumar
Scientist, CFRI, Dhanbad

Mr K K Bhattacharyya
Project Leader, NML, Jamshedpur

Dr B D Kulkarni
Project eader, NCL Pune

Mr B P Baruah
Project Leader & Convenor, RRL, Jorhat

Federation of Industries & Commerce of NE Region

Mr George Chacko
Director, FINER, Guwahati

Programme
10 January,2006

Venue

Assam Administrative Staff College
Guwahati

Contact Persons

Mr B P Baruah
Head, Coal Chemistry
Regional Research Laboratory, Jorhat 785006
Tel: (0376) 2372581, 2370121 Extn 2450/2420 (O)
94353 51679 (M)

email : bpcoal2002@yahoo.co.in

Mr S D Lahkar
Sr Consultant
Federation of Industries & Commerce of NE Region
Guwahati, Assam
Tel : (0361) 2200007/ 98640 72403(M)

email : finer@satyam.net.in

Dr P C Tamuly
Head, Information & Business Development
Regional Research Laboratory, Jorhat 785006
Tel : (0376) 2370086 (O) / 94350 90088(M)
email : pctamuly@rediffmail.com

Workshop-cum-Interactive Meet
On
Characterization and
Gainful Utilization of
North East Coals
with
R&D Institutes , Govt. Agencies and Industries
at
Assam Administrative Staff College, Guwahati
on January 10, 2006
Participating CSIR Laboratories
RRL Jorhat, CFRI Dhanbad,
NML Jamshedpur & NCL Pune

Under the auspices of CSIR Network Project on
COAL CHARATERIZATION & RESOURCE QUALITY
ASSESSMENT FOR SPECIFIC END USES

Organised By: Regional Research Laboratory, Jorhat
 in collaboration with
Federation Of Industries & Commerce of NE Region, Guwahati