The CMPDI building in Ranchi. Telegraph picture

Ranchi, July 7: Spurred by recent successes, Central Mine Planning and Design Institute (CMPDI), a “mini-ratna” subsidiary of Coal India Limited, all set to further expand its exploration capacities by upgrading its key equipment.

Acquisition of high capacity hydrostatic boring drills and a 3-D seismograph — an upgrade from the seismograph that is in use now — are high on the company’s priority list. The company has already placed tenders for 18 high capacity boring drills, which will replace the existing mechanical drills. Two drills have already been received. Both are functioning smoothly.

Besides these, the company has also undertaken capacity expansion of its laboratory.

“In 2009-10, CMPDI became the sixth subsidiary of CIL to be conferred with the mini-ratna status. That was the year when the company carried out about 5.24 lakh metre of drilling, an all time high, “ said company spokesman Vinay Dayal.

During this period the average productivity of the company’s drills also increased to 416 metre per drill per month from 397 metre per drill per month.

Till May this year, four project reports have been prepared to establish addition of six million tonne of coal per year. Twentyfive more such reports are under preparation.

Also, in collaboration with the Forest Survey of India, Dehradun, CMPDI has prepared maps for nine coal fields to identify the “go” and “no go” areas for coal mining.

The company has deputed two geologists for carrying out preliminary investigations and drawing plans for exploration work in two virgin coal blocks in Mozambique, acquired recently by Coal India. The blocks are spread over 224 square kilometres.

CMPDI was established in 1975 as a subsidiary of Coal India for rendering total consultancy services to the parent company and it's seven subsidiaries, which contribute around 90 per cent of the total coal production of the country.

A key contributory factor in CMPDI’s success has been the offering of full-range services in the sphere of resource exploration & development.