PEKB becomes Chhattisgarh's first solar-powered coal mine, sets new benchmark in sustainable mining
In a ground breaking move toward sustainable mining, the Parsa East and Kanta Basan (PEKB) coal mine, located in Surguja district of Chhattisgarh, has officially become the first coal mine in the state, and one of the first in India, to achieve complete energy self-sufficiency through solar power.
The milestone was marked with the inauguration of a 9-megawatt (MW) solar power plant, making PEKB a model for environmentally responsible mining practices.
The solar facility was inaugurated on Friday by Rajesh Agrawal, BJP MLA from Ambikapur, who symbolically switched on the panel board to mark the commissioning of the plant. The plant, spanning 30 acres of reclaimed land within the mine, represents a significant step in incorporating renewable energy into India's coal mining sector.
The development contract for the PEKB mine was awarded to Adani Enterprises following a competitive bidding process by the Government of Rajasthan.
A Green Shift in Mining
MLA Agrawal, during his visit, highlighted the importance of the solar power plant for both energy security and environmental sustainability.
"The installation of this solar power plant is a significant step in reducing carbon emissions. The plant will generate approximately 2.137 million units of electricity annually, offsetting about 17,094 tonnes of carbon emissions, which is the equivalent of planting 100,000 trees," Agrawal pointed out.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Giao dịch vàng CFDs với sàn môi giới tin cậy
IC Markets
Tìm hiểu thêm
Undo
He added that this initiative is a valuable contribution to India's transition towards clean energy.
Officials said that the solar project, developed by Mundra Solar PV Limited, a subsidiary of Adani Green Energy Ltd., is expected to reduce nearly 400,000 tonnes of carbon emissions over the next 25 years, akin to the environmental benefits of planting 2.5 million trees.
During the inauguration, Agrawal also visited the mine's nursery area, where large-scale afforestation is in progress.
He planted a Sal tree sapling, an indigenous species crucial for the region's biodiversity.
"The plantation of over 1.5 million trees by the mine workers is an admirable effort. Special recognition is due for the cultivation of Sal trees, which are rare to propagate but hold immense ecological value," Agrawal stated.
PEKB, located in the Udaipur block of Chhattisgarh, is a critical source of coal for electricity generation, benefiting approximately 80 million consumers in Rajasthan.
Beyond its energy contributions, the mine plays a vital role in supporting local communities, creating employment opportunities, and fostering infrastructure development.
As part of its environmental and community welfare initiatives, PEKB has already planted over 1.568 million trees in the region. Additionally, more than 1,000 children are receiving free, quality education through English-medium schools operated by the project, ensuring the long-term social development of the local population.
The inauguration event was attended by senior officials from RRVUNL.
As Chhattisgarh continues to emerge as a leader in sustainable mining, the PEKB solar power plant stands as a shining example of how the sector can contribute to both energy security and environmental preservation, marking a significant milestone in the journey toward a cleaner and greener future.
Follow more information on
Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad here
. Get
real-time live updates
on rescue operations and check
full list of passengers onboard AI 171
.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Coconut prices near100 ahead of Ganesh Chaturthi as prodn falls
Panaji: The prices of coconuts, a staple in the Goan diet, have seen a major spike leading to concerns among locals ahead of the Ganesh Chaturthi . A small-sized coconut which was priced at Rs 20 to Rs 25, is now selling at Rs 45, while a medium-sized nut which was selling at Rs 35 earlier is now available for Rs 60. In some pockets, vendors even quote Rs 90 for a large-sized coconut. Agriculture experts said that premature plucking of tender coconuts is affecting the yield. Monkeys and other animals targeting horticultural produce and rising cost of fertilisers are some of the reasons blamed for the rising coconut prices. Agriculture director Sandeep Fol Dessai said that the supply of coconuts is already down during the monsoon season as it is difficult to harvest. The other factors are only adding to the situation this season. 'Also, many farmers are migrating to urban areas for better opportunities, leaving their fields unattended. This is an opportunity for the monkeys to come and destroy the crops,' Foldessai said. Foldessai said that coconut prices will stabilise after harvesting resumes as the monsoon recedes. Vendors said that rise in labour and transportation costs are also fuelling the spike. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo Nitin Manjrekar, a grocery store owner at the city market, said, 'It is all about the weight of the coconuts. A jumbo coconut is sold for Rs 90.' Even though the Goa State Horticulture Corporation Ltd is set to import one lakh coconuts from Karnataka and promises to make them available at a subsidised price of Rs 44 a piece to bring relief to the consumers during Ganesh Chaturthi, the corporation's procurement is still expected to fall far below the demand. Another vendor said, 'Many coconuts are also being imported from Karnataka, and because of low supply of coconuts, the prices are so high. Everyone is obsessed with eating tender coconuts. No one knows when the prices are going to come down.' Former agriculture director Nevil Alphonso said the productivity of the coconuts is less this season. 'The Benaulim coconut tree, a variety native to South Goa, has the potential to yield 70 – 80 coconuts per tree. The organic and chemical fertilisers are getting expensive, which is also a major factor for low coconut produce,' he said. Alphonso said that rise in the labour charges of coconut pluckers is also driving up the cost. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Lisa Cook educational background and career journey: How this philosophy scholar became a US Federal Reserve governor
From Oxford to the US FED: Lisa Cook's academic journey and professional milestones. (Getty Images) Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook has come under scrutiny following allegations of mortgage fraud made by a US housing official. On August 20, 2025, US President Donald Trump called for her immediate resignation via his social media platform, Truth Social . The accusations, which have not been confirmed, concern mortgage agreements on two properties—one in Michigan and another in Georgia. Cook, who is serving a term on the US Federal Reserve Board of Governors until 2038, became the first Black woman to hold the position when she took office on May 23, 2022. Her academic and professional journey spans prestigious institutions, policy roles, and contributions to economic research. Early education and academic foundations Born in 1964, Lisa DeNell Cook grew up in Milledgeville, Georgia. She is the daughter of Payton B. Cook, a Baptist hospital chaplain, and Mary Murray Cook, a nursing professor at Georgia College. As a child, she was involved in school desegregation efforts in Georgia and sustained physical injuries during that process. She is also a cousin of chemist Percy Julian. Cook earned a BA in Physics and Philosophy, magna cum laude, from Spelman College in 1986 and was named a Harry S. Truman Scholar. She became Spelman's first Marshall Scholar and went on to read Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE) at St Hilda's College, Oxford, completing her second BA in 1988. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo She also took postgraduate courses in philosophy at Cheikh Anta Diop University in Senegal. Shift to economics and doctoral research Cook shifted her focus to economics after a Mount Kilimanjaro hiking trip with an economist. She later earned a PhD in Economics from the University of California, Berkeley, in 1997. Her dissertation, supervised by Barry Eichengreen and David Romer, examined the underdevelopment of the banking system in czarist and post-Soviet Russia. Cook began her academic career as a visiting assistant professor at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government and Harvard Business School from 1997 to 2002. She also served as deputy director of Africa Research at Harvard's Center for International Development. Professional roles and policy contributions Between 2000 and 2001, Cook worked as a senior adviser on finance and development at the US Treasury Department under a Council on Foreign Relations fellowship. From 2002 to 2005, she was a National Fellow and Research Fellow at Stanford University's Hoover Institution. Cook joined Michigan State University in 2005, became a tenured associate professor in 2013, and has published research on macroeconomics, African-American history, and innovation economics. Her work includes a study linking racial violence to declines in patent activity and the development of a database on lynching in the US. She served on the Obama administration's Council of Economic Advisers from August 2011 to August 2012 and has advised the governments of Nigeria and Rwanda on economic matters. She has also served on the Executive Committee of the American Economic Association and directed its Summer Program for underrepresented students since 2016. Nomination and confirmation to the Federal Reserve President Joe Biden nominated Cook to the US Federal Reserve Board of Governors on January 14, 2022. Following a series of procedural delays and partisan votes, she was confirmed by the Senate on May 10, 2022, with Vice President Kamala Harris casting the tie-breaking vote. In May 2023, Biden re-nominated her for a full 14-year term. The Senate confirmed her appointment on September 6, 2023, by a 51–47 vote. TOI Education is on WhatsApp now. Follow us here . Ready to navigate global policies? Secure your overseas future. Get expert guidance now!
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Trade deficit rising due to oil buy, need to address it: EAM in Russia
Photo/PTI NEW DELHI: On a visit to Moscow, external affairs minister S Jaishankar has suggested measures to further expand the trade relationship and to address the trade deficit of $58.9 billion that has resulted from India's increased oil procurement from Russia. The minister said this trade imbalance needed to be addressed urgently. Ahead of Jaishankar's meeting with his counterpart Sergey Lavrov on Thursday, Russia said in a statement that the main emphasis would be on promoting transportation, logistics, banking and financial chains independent from countries imposing sanctions, as well as expanding the use of national currencies in mutual settlements. Addressing tariff and non-tariff trade barriers, removing bottlenecks in logistics, promoting connectivity, effecting payment mechanisms smoothly and early conclusion of the India-Eurasian Economic Union FTA, whose terms of reference were finalised on Wednesday, were some of the measures he suggested to diversify trade relations and address the imbalance. "They will not only help to address the imbalance and grow our trade, but also hasten the timely achievement of our revised trade target of $100 billion by 2030," said Jaishankar, co-chairing the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission for Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technological and Cultural Cooperation (IRIGC-TEC) with Russia's first deputy PM Denis Manturov. Jaishankar called for promoting connectivity through the International North-South Transport Corridor, the Northern Sea Route and the Chennai-Vladivostok Corridor, and also sought timely finalisation and execution of the Programme of Economic Cooperation till 2030. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo On Thursday, Jaishankar will hold talks with Lavrov during which both sides will discuss regional and global issues, including developments related to the Russia-Ukraine war. Lavrov is expected to brief him about the Russia-US summit in Alaska. Ahead of the meeting, the Russian foreign ministry said that the foundation of the Russian-Indian special privileged strategic partnership was mutual trust and respect. "It is planned to touch upon the issues of enhancing cooperation in the transport, energy, agricultural and scientific-technical spheres," said the Russian statement.
