Hyderabad: After getting Tadicherla II coal block recently, the Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) has secured the Manuguru Prakasham Khani Opencast-II dip side coal block in the latest coal mines auction. The block, located in Bhadradri Kothagudem district, is estimated to hold 120 million tonnes of high-quality G-8 grade coal, enabling production of six million tonnes annually over the next 20 years.SCCL officials said the new allocation would provide long-term employment security to around 2,000 people and strengthen the future of mining operations in the Manuguru region for another two decades. Spread over nearly 6,000 hectares, the block currently has around 46% green cover.The acquisition comes as SCCL steps up efforts to secure additional coal resources to meet rising demand, particularly from new thermal power stations in Telangana. The company had earlier secured the Naini coal block in Odisha, where production commenced last year.Deputy chief minister Bhatti Vikramarka hailed the development, stating that SCCL had succeeded in acquiring a coal block through auctions after nearly 12 years. He said mining leases secured in the second week of last month would enable extraction of 336 million tonnes of coal over a period of 45 years.He said sustained efforts over the last 30 months to protect and expand SCCL while ensuring Telangana’s energy security were now yielding tangible results and giving a new lease of life to the public sector coal producer.Bhatti described the Manuguru block as crucial for safeguarding the future of one of SCCL’s key mining regions. The project is expected to contribute significantly to the local economy and strengthen Telangana’s energy security over the next 20 years through the supply of quality coal.The deputy CM accused the previous BRS govt of failing to safeguard SCCL’s interests, resulting in key coal blocks such as Koyagudem-III and Sathupalli-III being allotted to private companies.He added that efforts would be made to bring the Koyagudem-III and Sathupalli-III blocks back under SCCL in the future. The company is also preparing an action plan to expand beyond Telangana by acquiring coal assets in other states and exploring opportunities in critical minerals.
