The coal production and dispatch of South Eastern Coalfields (SECL), a subsidiary of Coal India (CIL), are set to receive a boost with the recent launch of three projects. CIL Chairman Pramod Agrawal inaugurated these projects, which include the Rail Rapid Load Out System (RRLOS) in the Gevra area as part of the First Mile Connectivity (FMC), a workshop complex in the Kusmunda area, and the Baroud siding in the Raigarh area. According to SECL Chairman-cum-Managing Director Prem Sagar Mishra, the company is taking swift action to meet the target of producing 200 million tonnes (mt) of coal for the fiscal year 2024. Although the company fell short of the 182 mt target in FY23, it still achieved a production of 167 mt, which was 17 percent higher than the previous year. An SECL spokesperson stated that a workshop has been established to cater to the repair and maintenance needs of heavy earth moving machinery (HEMMs). The projects encompass various sub-systems, including dumper washing, bay lubrication, compressed air, EOT crane, power supply, indoor and outdoor lighting, communication, ventilation, and firefighting. The workshop also provides facilities for HEMM machinery, such as an excavation complex, E&M complex, store complex, substation, pump house, administrative office, canteen, and first aid centre. The Rapid Loading System (RLS) project in Gevra, which is expected to become the largest coal mine in Asia with a capacity of 70 million tonnes per annum (mtpa), has required an investment of Rs 222 crore. The spokesperson mentioned that the RLS will enable the dispatch of 20 million tonnes of coal annually. The bunker capacity in the RLS project is approximately 30,000 tonnes, allowing for the loading of 4,500 to 5,500 tonnes of coal into rail rakes per hour. The complex in Kusmunda, the second largest mine of SECL with a capacity of 50 mtpa, has been established on a 16-hectare site at an estimated cost of Rs 248 crore. SECL is in the process of procuring over 400 HEMMs, including 261 dumpers with capacities ranging from 60 tonnes to 240 tonne. The Baroud siding, with a capacity of 20,000 tonne per day, will facilitate the loading of four rakes of coal daily from the Raigarh area. Additionally, as part of the FMC project, a coal handling plant with a capacity of 10 mt per annum is being constructed at Baroud, enabling the daily dispatch of six coal rakes. Also read: CSE: Just 5% of India's coal plants meet SO2 emission norms Singareni, NTPC ink 4 deals for coal supply, payment,