Latest news with #Mines
The Hindu
7 hours ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Welfare schemes in A.P. continue despite ₹16,000 crore fiscal deficit, says Excise Minister
Minister for Mines, Geology and Excise Kollu Ravindra on Tuesday said that the State government is taking up development and welfare activities despite Andhra Pradesh having a fiscal deficit of ₹16,000 crore. The Minister toured Kavali Assembly Constituency on Tuesday (July 29, 2025) along with MLC Beeda Ravichandra and local MLA Dagumati Venkata (Kavya) Krishna Reddy. As part of 'Suparipalana lo Tholi Adugu' programme, the Minister laid foundation stone for several development programmes, including internal CC roads at Pattapupalem at a cost of ₹22.6 lakh, drinking water facility under Jala Jeevan Mission at Thummalapenta Pallipalem at a cost of ₹44 lakh and another CC road in the same village at a cost of ₹27.4 lakh. Similarly, foundation stone was also laid for safe drinking water at Otturu at a cost of ₹55 lakh, and the construction of CC road at a cost of ₹25 lakh. 'About 95% promises made before the elections have been fulfilled. After the government was formed, pensions were increased and paid to the beneficiaries along with arrears. There are 64 lakh pensioners in the State,' the Minister said. Under 'Annadata Sukhibhava' programme, the government offers ₹20,000 per year in three instalments to support farmers, the Minister said, adding that ₹20,000 is provided annually to the fishermen during the ban on fishing. 'As part of the pre-poll promises, steps have been taken to provide free bus travel to women from August 15,' the Minister said.
New Indian Express
5 days ago
- New Indian Express
Telangana HC pulls up cops for ignoring GO on violations in sand transport
HYDERABAD: Justice EV Venugopal of the Telangana High Court has directed the police to strictly adhere to Government Orders before confiscating vehicles or machinery involved in the illegal mining and transportation of sand. Justice Venugopal was hearing a petition related to the seizure of a tractor by the Nagarkurnool police, allegedly in violation of government guidelines. Referring to GO 15 issued by the Industries and Commerce (Mines) department on February 19 this year, the court clarified that vehicles involved in illegal sand mining and transport should be penalised, not confiscated, if caught for the first or second time. According to the GO, a penalty of Rs 5,000 is applicable for a first-time offence, and Rs 15,000 for a second offence. The order also specifies different penalties for other types of vehicles. However, the police confiscated a tractor for its first-time violation. M Rameshwar Rao, counsel for the tractor owner, informed the court that despite paying the Rs 5,000 penalty, the police refused to return the vehicle.
El Chorouk
21-07-2025
- Business
- El Chorouk
Hydrocarbons: 'Signing of 5 major contracts worth over $600 million USD'
On Monday, the Minister of Energy, Mines, and Renewable Energies, Mr. Mohamed Arkab, oversaw the signing ceremony of 5 hydrocarbon contracts with foreign partners, with a total investment value of no less than $606 million USD, for a period extending up to 30 years. According to a statement from the supervising ministry, these contracts are part of the results of the 'Algeria Bid Round 2024,' which is the first international competition organized under the new Hydrocarbons Law No. 19-13. This round resulted in the awarding of 5 out of six proposed blocks for contracts extending over 30 years, including 7 years dedicated to exploration work, with a minimum total investment estimated at $606 million USD. A 'participation' contract was signed between Sonatrach and the alliance of Swiss company 'Philada' and Austrian company 'ZenGas,' concerning the 'Toual 2' block (Berkine Basin) in the southern wilayas or provinces of Ouargla and Illizi. Sonatrach also signed a 'participation' contract with the Chinese company 'Sinopec,' concerning the 'Gourn El Goussa 2' block (Gourara-Timimoun Basin) in the southern provinces of Bechar, Beni Abbes, El Bayadh, and Timimoun. The third contract was in the form of 'production sharing' between Sonatrach and the alliance of the Italian consortium 'Eni' and the Thai 'PTTEP,' concerning the 'Reggane 2' block in Adrar wilaya. A 'production sharing' contract was also signed between Sonatrach and the Chinese company 'ZPEC,' concerning the 'Zarafa 2' block (Ahnet-Gourara Basin) in the wilayas of Adrar and In Salah. The fifth contract was signed in the form of production sharing between Sonatrach and the alliance of 'Qatar Energy' and 'TotalEnergies,' concerning the 'Ahara' site in southern Illizi province. The same source confirmed that these results reflect the attractiveness of the new investment climate in Algeria, supported by a modern and flexible legal framework, and a clear strategy aimed at strengthening value-added partnerships, especially in the fields of exploration and the valorization of national hydrocarbon resources. The statement indicated that through this step, Algeria reaffirms its commitment to supporting sustainable investments in the energy sector, thereby enhancing its contribution to economic development and consolidating its position as a reliable and promising destination in the field of hydrocarbons at the international level.
Mint
21-07-2025
- Business
- Mint
Fall in coal imports in FY25 led to forex savings worth ₹60,681 crore, says coal minister
India's coal imports in 2024-25 fell nearly 8% to 243.62 million tonnes, leading to foreign exchange savings of over ₹ 60,681.67 crore, said G. Kishan Reddy, the Union minister for coal and mines, on Monday. In a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha, the minister noted that the imports stood at 264.53 million tonnes in 2023-24. 'During 2024-25, India imported 243.62 million tonnes of coal, compared to 264.53 million tonnes in 2023-24. Due to the reduction of around 20.91 million tonnes in coal imports, there has been a forex savings of around ₹ 60,681.67 crore during 2024-25 compared to 2023-24,' Reddy said. The fall in imports comes amid the rise in domestic production. India's coal production reached 1.047 billion tonnes in the last fiscal year, nearly 5% higher than 997.83 million tonnes in 2023-24. The minister said most of the country's coal requirement is currently met through indigenous production and supplies. The ministry of coal has set an ambitious domestic coal production target of about 1.5 billion tonnes by 2029-30. The focus of the government is on increasing the domestic production of coal and reducing non-essential coal imports. The ministry of coal launched the Coal Logistics Plan and Policy in February 2024 to develop infrastructure for efficient coal evacuation, considering increased coal production projection by 2029-30," he said. The minister also outlined steps taken by the Centre to increase domestic coal production. He noted that, in addition to regular reviews by the coal ministry to expedite the development of coal blocks, the government has taken several regulatory measures in the past few years, including the enactment of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2021. State-run Coal India Ltd (CIL) has adopted a number of measures to increase coal production, including the adoption of new and modern technologies like mass production technologies (MPT) with the deployment of continuous miners, longwalls, and highwalls wherever feasible, he said, adding that digital transformation has been implemented on apilot scale in seven of its mega mines.
Mint
21-07-2025
- Business
- Mint
Fall in coal imports in FY25 led to forex savings worth ₹60,681 crore, says coal minister
India's coal imports in 2024-25 fell nearly 8% to 243.62 million tonnes, leading to foreign exchange savings of over ₹ 60,681.67 crore, said G. Kishan Reddy, the Union minister for coal and mines, on Monday. In a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha, the minister noted that the imports stood at 264.53 million tonnes in 2023-24. 'During 2024-25, India imported 243.62 million tonnes of coal, compared to 264.53 million tonnes in 2023-24. Due to the reduction of around 20.91 million tonnes in coal imports, there has been a forex savings of around ₹ 60,681.67 crore during 2024-25 compared to 2023-24,' Reddy said. The fall in imports comes amid the rise in domestic production. India's coal production reached 1.047 billion tonnes in the last fiscal year, nearly 5% higher than 997.83 million tonnes in 2023-24. The minister said most of the country's coal requirement is currently met through indigenous production and supplies. The ministry of coal has set an ambitious domestic coal production target of about 1.5 billion tonnes by 2029-30. The focus of the government is on increasing the domestic production of coal and reducing non-essential coal imports. The ministry of coal launched the Coal Logistics Plan and Policy in February 2024 to develop infrastructure for efficient coal evacuation, considering increased coal production projection by 2029-30," he said. The minister also outlined steps taken by the Centre to increase domestic coal production. He noted that, in addition to regular reviews by the coal ministry to expedite the development of coal blocks, the government has taken several regulatory measures in the past few years, including the enactment of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2021. State-run Coal India Ltd (CIL) has adopted a number of measures to increase coal production, including the adoption of new and modern technologies like mass production technologies (MPT) with the deployment of continuous miners, longwalls, and highwalls wherever feasible, he said, adding that digital transformation has been implemented on apilot scale in seven of its mega mines. "Regular liaison is being undertaken by Singareni Collieries Co. Ltd for expediting the grant of permissions and clearances for the grounding of new projects and the operation of existing projects. SCCL has initiated action for developing infrastructure for the evacuation of coal, like coal handling plants (CHPs), crushers, mobile crushers, pre-weigh-bins, etc.," Reddy said.
