BHUBANESWAR: Tata Steel is set to shift to underground mining at its Sukinda Chromite Mines (SCM) as part of its initiative to conserve mineral and natural resources. The preparatory work for the underground mining project was put on ground by Managing Director HM Nerurkar during his visit to SCM on Saturday. The state-of-the-art trackless mining technology with complete underground mechanisation will ensure maximum utilisation of the mineral resources with minimal impact on the environment. The underground method would involve 100 per cent back-filling of voids with paste. The paste filling technology is the latest development in mining backfill that optimises ore extraction while ensuring complete compaction of voids under the ground with quick settling time. “Mining at SCM is fully mechanised at present. The roadmap ahead is to operate underground mines which will go a long way in conserving natural resources and thereby contribute to sustainable mining in the country,” Nerurkar said. The SCM with its advanced chrome ore beneficiation facility, at present, has a capacity of 6.5 lakh tonne per annum and is capable of meeting all specifications of the metallurgy and refractory sectors. The SCM is the only Indian producer of hexavalent chrome-free chrome concentrate, made through patented herbal treatment process that adds green credits to the organisation’s environmental initiatives.
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