Ambikapur. Under the guidance of the National Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and the Central Institute of Mining and Fuel Research (CIMFR), there has been an unprecedented development in the Indian mining industry. For the first time in India, dozer push mining technology based on digital technology has been successfully tested.
Adani Natural Resources, India’s leading private company in the mining sector, successfully tested this technology last week in the Parsa East Kete Bassen (PEKB) mine of Rajasthan State Electricity Generation Corporation Limited in Udaipur development block of Ambikapur in Chhattisgarh. This test is a significant achievement in mining technology, in which unmanned machines have been used for the coal extraction process. This technology will prove to be a milestone for better production and safety in the direction of digital autonomous mining.
What is the special technique of dozer push?
In dozer push mining testing, cast blasting is done by drilling with an automated, (unmanned) drill machine. After blasting, the blasted material is placed in the decolled area using an automated, large-sized dozer machine specifically designed for this process. The dozer push mining method is being seen as a potential solution to the challenges faced by traditional truck-shovel mining, especially during the rainy season when haulage roads become clogged with mud, affecting safety and productivity. By reducing reliance on trucks and excavator machines, this method can optimize excavation operations and reduce unit costs, providing a more sustainable and efficient approach to mining. Not only this, since trucks are not used in this technology, hence from the safety point of view, this dozer push technology also demonstrates the commitment of the five-star PEKB mine towards safety parameters.
The success of the trial of this dozer push technology, which is being used in coal mining by Adani Natural Resources for the first time in India, was also appreciated by Dr. MP Roy, Chief Scientist of CSIR and CIMFR and said, “This new technology is being used in India. Opencast can revolutionize mining operations. The dozer push mining method is a modern alternative to traditional dragline and truck/shovel excavation. “This not only increases the speed and efficiency of the mining process but also reduces operating costs.”
The test was led by Professor Arvind Kumar Mishra, Director, CSIR-CIMFR, with contributions from Dr. M.P. Roy, Dr. Vivek Kumar Himanshu, R.S. Yadav, Suraj Kumar and Dr. Ashish Kumar Vishwakarma, who conducted the dozer push at PEKB mine. Played an important role in the successful execution of the first explosion of mining technology. This significant achievement places India at the forefront of adoption of cutting-edge mining technologies, which will have a significant impact on the future of the sector.