The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : U.S. agency to fund study on alternative mining technology

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Mar 15, 2006

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

U.S. agency to fund study on alternative mining technology

Staff Reporter

The aim is to increase India's power production, improve mining operations

CHENNAI: The U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) has agreed to fund a technical assistance study on the use of alternative mining technology by the Neyveli Lignite Corporation (NLC).

US Consul-General David Hopper and NLC Chairman S. Jayaraman signed an agreement here on Tuesday.

According to a release, increasing India's electricity production to meet the growing demands and improving mining operations and lowering costs were the objective of the $360,000 grant from the agency. The fund would be used for technical assistance associated with the proposed use of alternate mining technology (AMT) for the mine-III expansion project.

The NLC is evaluating the feasibility of using the AMT against the specialised mining equipment now in use at the mine. The assistance will assess the viability of the AMT under the conditions at mine-III to determine whether it offers a lower cost solution to extending the mine life and increasing the recovery. The proposed mine extension includes linking the increased production to a possible new 1,000 MW thermal power station.

"The opportunity to provide this technical assistance under the grant will be competed on the Federal Business Opportunities web site, www. fedbizopps.gov," the release from the US Consulate said.

The selection of the US contractor to provide the assistance will be done by the NLC.

The USTDA (www.ustda.gov) advances economic development and American commercial interests in developing and middle income countries.

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