SAIL has appointed Lanco Infratech as the developer and operator (MDO) for its Tasra coal block project in Dhanbad district of Jharkhand.

The project involves development of four million tpa Tasra open cast coking coal mine and pithead coal beneficiation plant (washery) at Jharia coalfield area. The technical and commercial bids have been opened and Lanco has been found to fit the bill for the development of the coal block. The EoIs have been invited for project management consultancy services for rehabilitation and resettlement of project for development of Tasra coal block (Tender).

The mine lease for the Tasra block covers 4.5 sq km or 450 ha. Because of the nature of the block, SAIL requires surface rights for 900.59 ha. But currently, it is in possession of only 346.67 ha. The block has reserves of close to 100 million tonne and will accompany a beneficiation plant and a power plant for 300 MW, all of which has to be developed by Lanco, as per the bid document.

The block, which SAIL received from Bharat Coking Coal in 1996, had run into a raft of problems with the rider on land acquisition by the operator being the biggest deterrent for bidders. But in 2012, Lanco, Adani and some smaller players bid for the project.

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