Coal India launches pilot project to replace diesel with LNG in dumpers

In order to further reduce carbon footprint, Coal India Ltd (CIL), Ministry of Coal has recently initiated the process of retrofitting Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) kits in its dumpers – the big trucks engaged in the transportation of coal in mines. CIL, the world’s largest coal miner uses over 4 lakh kilolitres of diesel per annum with an expense of over ₹3500 crores.

₹500 crore savings annually if all heavy earth moving machines including dumpers are retrofitted with LNG kits.

The cost economics of the project will be evaluated after completion of the pilot project and technical study on the performance of the dumpers. The pilot project is likely to be completed by the year-end. Based on the outcome, CIL will decide about bulk use of LNG in its HEMMs, especially dumpers. CIL is planning to buy HEMMs with only LNG engines if the project becomes a success and this will help reduce its carbon footprint drastically and achieve sustainable goals.

Globally, LNG hybrid operation in high capacity mining dump trucks has been implemented by US, Canada, Mexico, Russia and Ghana.