‘Coal miners make uninterrupted power possible, says Union coal min Reddy during visit at Gevra mine

Raipur: Union minister of coal and mines, G Kishan Reddy, visited SECL's Gevra mine—the world's second-largest coal mine—on Thursday. Reddy highlighted the coal sector's vital role in powering the nation, noting that over 70% of India's electricity is generated from coal. He stressed the importance of pursuing sustainability in mining operations and accelerating mine closures with a well-defined action plan.
Acknowledging Gevra's significant role in meeting the country's energy needs, the minister remarked that Gevra is the pride of our country. He said while one may manage to wait for food for some time, waiting for electricity is indispensable—and it is the coal miners who make that uninterrupted power possible.
The minister personally descended into the mine to witness first-hand advanced operations, including the use of mega machinery like the 42-cubic-metre shovel and 240-ton dumper, among the largest HEMMs used globally. He observed coal extraction using blast-free surface miner technology and visited the state-of-the-art silos developed under the First Mile Connectivity initiative for eco-friendly coal transportation.
The minister also interacted with machine operators inside their equipment, boosting the morale of the workforce. Workers were visibly elated to be acknowledged directly by the union minister.
Reddy further visited the Miyawaki plantation pilot site at Gevra, where afforestation has been undertaken using the revolutionary Japanese technique and planted saplings.
Coal India Ltd chairman P M Prasad, joint secretary ministry of coal BP Pati, and SECL CMD Harish Duhan, along with senior officials, accompanied the minister.