CIL retrofits cleaner LNG kits in trucks to cut carbon footprint
NEW DELHI: To reduce its carbon footprint, state-run Coal India Ltd (CIL) is retrofitting cleaner liquefied natural gas (LNG) kits in over 2,500 dumpers used to transport coal to its mines.
“This is significant as the world’s largest coal miner uses over 400,000 kilolitres of diesel per annum with an annual expense of over ₹3,500 crore,” CIL said in a statement.
“The dumper fleet consumes 65% to 75% of total diesel consumed by the company. LNG will replace the use of diesel by 30-40% and reduce the fuel cost by about 15%. The move will reduce carbon emission significantly and also save around ₹500 crore annually if all existing heavy earth moving machines including dumpers are retrofitted with LNG kit. Getting rid of diesel pilferages and adulteration are other added advantages,” a senior CIL executive was quoted in the statement.
India’s power sector is the largest consumer of coal, and CIL is the largest coal miner. Of India’s installed power generation capacity of 383.37 GW, coalfuelled projects account for 53% or 202.67 GW.
“The company in association with GAIL (India) Ltd and BEML Ltd has taken up a pilot project for retrofitting LNG kits in its two 100 tonne dumpers working at the subsidiary Mahanadi Coalfields
Ltd. CIL on Tuesday signed an MOU with GAIL an BEML to get this pilot project executed. Once the LNG kit successfully retrofitted and tested, these dumpers will be able to run on both LNG and diesel and their operations will be significantly cheaper and cleaner with use of LNG,” the statement said.
This comes at a time of fuel demand increasing on account of a higher offtake from the power sector, with India’s electricity demand on an upward trajectory.
In a reflection of growing demand, CIL registered a 28.4% growth in coal offtake for the first four months of the current financial year as compared to the corresponding period last fiscal.
“The trial run of dumpers in dual fuel (Lng-diesel) system will be conducted for 90 days in different load and operating conditions. A techno-economic study will be done based on the data generated during the trial run to ascertain the feasibility of the system in CIL mining conditions. Based on the outcomes of this pilot project, CIL will decide for bulk use of LNG in its HEMMS, especially dumpers. The company has also planned to buy HEMMS with only LNG engines if this ongoing pilot projects gets success. This move will help CIL reduce its carbon footprint drastically and achieve sustainable goals,” the statement said.