Singareni Collieries Co, a public sector undertaking, has planned to invest Rs.3,835 crore in the period beginning now till 2017.

During this period, the coal major would be opening 25 new mines comprising 16 opencast and 9 underground mines. The new mines would offset the 44 per cent production loss that the company would face by the closure of 17 mines (11 UG and 6 OC) mines in the period 2004-17. The loss in production would arise from the loss in production capacity by 15.3 million tpa. For 2004-05, SCCL has targeted to produce 35 million tonnes of coal against the demand of 37 million tonnes.

SCCL is a public sector company in which the government of Andhra Pradesh holds 51 per cent while the Union government has 49 per cent. It is the only company in south India catering to coal requirements of user industries, mainly cement and power. Its coal supplies account for 55 per cent of the power generation in Andhra Pradesh.