Rainwater storage created in the closed Medipally OpenCast SCCL in the Ramagundam area, where the company plans its project of drawn storage energy. | Photo Credit: Arrangement
Hyderabad
Singareni Collieries Company LTD (SCCL) plans to set up a power supply project with 500 megawatts as part of its diversification and business expansion plans due to growing competition in coal mining.
In addition to the main activity of coal mining, the company has already entered thermal and solar areas. The decision to go to the project of drawn storage energy was adopted according to instructions from the state government, which has a majority share of 51%in the company.
After a preliminary study on the scope of the drawing project, the company decided to entrust the preparation of the Project Report (DPR) to the Central Government Agency Wapcos. A letter of award for DPR preparation was awarded at a meeting that took place here on Saturday.
According to the chairman and CEO of Sccl N. Balaram, the project of drawn storage energy is planned in the area of water storage (Sump) created after closing the Medipally OpenCast mine in the Ramagundam-I area. He stated that neither GenCO’s state energy tool nor a private company plan/carried out a project of drawn storage in Telangana, although several such projects have launched in neighboring countries.
Representative of the main Minister M. Bhatti Vikramark, who processes the portfolios of energy and finance, has already visited the closed area of Medipally OpenCast mining area before the new enterprise. Wapcos would be preparation of DPR – including geological, geotechnical and hydrological studies such as civic, mechanical and electrical designs, environmental aspects and safety work.
The estimated project costs, the time to carry out its implementation and the sale of energy generated in the project would be included in the DPR to prepare Wapcos. Mr. Balaram explained that after the extraction of coal reserves and rainwater, a 157 -meter -deep water sump/tank was created. The project costs will be around 3,000 GBP and will have a life of 40 years – generate cheap energy for 40 years.
Another reservoir with a length of 2,350 meters and a depth of 23 meters in the area of upstream would be created with the same capacity of water retention (9.64 million cubic meters) and 8 million cubic meters in the sump downstream would be at a time of day with solar energy. At night, the water pumped into the dam upstream was directed to the turbines to form the energy of the hydel.
Published – June 21, 2025 17:27
