Singareni Collieries and ONGC sign MOU

Hyderabad, Apr 15: Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) and ONGC today signed an MOU to co-operate in the service and process development and research related to Underground Coal Gasification (UCG), Surface Coal Gasification (SCG) and Coal Bed Methane (CBM) in coal bearing areas.

The MOU was signed here by ONGC Chairman and Managing Director Subir Raha and SCCL Chairman and Managing Director RH Khwaja in the presence of the Chief Minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy.

Mr Khwaja said the MOU between the two companies would enhance and accelerate the development of these unconventional hydrocarbons which would contribute significantly to the energy requirements of the country. The MOU would be effective for five years.

Mr Raha said the ONGC which has gained substantial knowledge and technology in exploration of CBM would be deployed in coal fields of SCCL and produce CBM in the state.

Stating that more than half of the coal reserves of SCCL were occuring at depths below 300 meters which could not be tapped with the conventional technology, he said the ONGC would augment the effort in bringing the deep reserves and meet the country's energy requirements.

Mr Raha said the ONGC has entered into a technical collaboration with Shell India for SCG .

UNI