First Coal Rake From Odisha’s Naini Mines Reaches Singareni
SCCL directors inaugurated the unloading process at STPP following traditional rituals.
HYDERABAD: A coal rake from Singareni Collieries Company Ltd’s (SCCL) Naini coal mine in Odisha reached the Singareni Thermal Power Plant (STPP) in Jaipur, Mancherial district, on Thursday, marking the first supply of coal from an SCCL-operated mine outside Telangana to the state.
The inaugural rake carried about 4,000 tonnes of G-10 grade coal in 59 wagons over a distance of 1,131 km. SCCL directors inaugurated the unloading process at STPP following traditional rituals.
The Naini coal block, allotted to SCCL by the Union coal ministry on August 13, 2015, has estimated reserves of 340.78 million tonnes and a planned annual production capacity of 10 million tonnes over 36 years. The project remained stalled for nearly nine years due to pending statutory clearances under the previous dispensation.
After the Congress assumed office, Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramark, the energy minister, prioritised the project. Bhatti visited Odisha twice to expedite approvals and virtually inaugurated coal production at Naini on April 16, 2025, after completion of clearances. Union coal and mines minister G Kishan Reddy facilitated forest clearances and statutory approvals following a change in government in Odisha.
Bhatti, currently on an official visit to the United States, in a video message termed the development a “historic occasion”. He said the government would continue to support SCCL’s expansion and referred to the acquisition of the Tadicherla-2 and Manuguru Dip-side blocks through auction, expressing confidence in securing more coal blocks.
He also urged SCCL to diversify into critical and rare earth minerals and emerge as a globally competitive mining company, stating that the government is prepared to procure advanced mining equipment, including technologies from Caterpillar, to modernise operations.
SCCL chairman and managing director Dr Buddhaprakash Jyoti thanked the Telangana and Odisha governments, Indian Railways and employees for facilitating the transportation.
SCCL directors (operations) L. V. Suryanarayana and (E&M) M. Tirumala Rao said that while SCCL has supplied coal to other states, this was the first instance of coal from its mine in another state being transported to Telangana, calling it a “truly historic achievement.”
Senior officials, including STPP executive director Chiranjeevi, general manager Narsimha Rao, trade union leaders and employees attended the event.
