  Pench Kanhan Coalfield Location in Madhya Pradesh | |
| Location | |
|---|---|
| State | Madhya Pradesh |
| Country | India |
| Coordinates | 22°12′50″N78°44′49″E / 22.21389°N 78.74694°E /22.21389; 78.74694 |
| Owner | |
| Company | Western Coalfields Limited |
| Website | http://westerncoal.gov.in/ |
| Year of acquisition | 1985 |
Pench Kanhan Coalfield is located inChhindwara District in theIndianstate ofMadhya Pradesh.
In 1845, the earliest systematic exploration of India’s coal resources was initiated by D.H.Williams, Geological Surveyor of the East India Company. In 1924, Dr. Cyril Fox surveyed once again certain coal-bearing areas, including thePench,Kanhan andTawa Valleys.[1]
The collieries in Pench Kanhan Coalfield were owned by several companies and owners such asAmalgamated Coalfields Limited, Pench Valley Coal Company, N.H.Ojha & Co., J.A.Trivedi Brothers, Newton Chikli Collieries (Private) Ltd., S.C.Kambata (Pvt) Ltd., Oriental Coal Co. Ltd., Sial Ghogri Group and The Jamai Majri Coal Co. Ltd. These were nationalized in 1973.[citation needed]
Satpura Coalfields are located in northernChhindwara andBetul Districts, south of theNarmada. Three rivers flow through the area - Pench, Kanhan andTawa. There are four coalfields in these valleys – Pench Kanhan Valley Coalfield, Mohpani Coalfield, Tawa Valley Coalfield and Pathakhera Coalfield. Outside theDamodar Valley, Satpura Gondwana Basin is the only area where coking coal is found in India.[2][3]
The Pench Kanhan Valley Coalfield is situated 30 km (19 mi) to the northwest ofChhindwara. While Pench Valley has five seams in a column of 50-80 m thickness, the coal belt in the Kanhan valley stretches for about 25 km (16 mi). In the Pench valley, except for seam no I, the other seams occur in patches.[2]
Important collieries in the Pench valley are: Newton, Chikli, Borkuhi, Ramanwara, Eklahera, Bamori, North Chandameta, Chandameta, East Dongar Chikli, Ambara Sukri, Datla and Shivpuri. Important coalfields in the Kanhan valley are: Rakhikhol, Danwa, Kalichappar and Nandan. There is a virgin area to the north.[2]
According to theGeological Survey of India, total reserves of coal (including proven, indicated and inferred) in the Pench Kanhan Coalfield is 2,411.28 million tonnes. Out this 657.39 million tonnes is medium coking coal, of which 347.06 million tonnes is available up to a depth of 300 m and another 310.33 million tonnes between 300 and 600 m. Total reserves of non-coking coal in the field is 1,753.89 million tonnes, of which 1,254.83 million tonnes is available up to a depth of 300 m, and another 499.06 million tonnes between 300 and 600 m.[4]
