New Delhi: Consultancy firm KPMG Advisory Service, which was given the task to take up the study for technology development and modernisation of Coal India mines, has submitted the final draft of its report to CIL.

"The consultant submitted the draft final report on April 29 and the same was circulated to all the subsidiaries of CIL," according to an official document of last week.

The consultant had submitted the 'draft composite report' in March, which was circulated to all the subsidiaries of CIL.

"The presentation of Draft Composite Report was made on March 20, before the members of the monitoring committee... The presentation focused on opportunities in UG (Under Ground) and opencast mechanisation, indicating opportunity areas and potential solutions," it said.

CIL's consultancy firm Central Mine Planning & Design Institute (CMPDI) had suggested to KPMG to incorporate some specific points which were deliberated in the meeting and also comments received from Coal India subsidiaries, it added.

At the behest of Coal Ministry, CIL had engaged KPMG in association with John T Boyd Company, USA to take up the study for technology development and modernisation of mines in CIL in November last year.

Following which an expression of interest (EoI) was floated for inviting proposals from firms for technology development and modernisation of mines of CIL.

The consultant was given the task to assess the requirements of technology and infrastructure development for mine planning and design and construction with regard to projected coal production plans for 12th, 13th and 14th Five Year Plans.

The Terms of Reference of the study has been to assess the status of existing technology for safety, production and productivity in the underground and opencast coal mines of various coalfields of CIL and the gaps in technology up gradation in underground and opencast mines in various coalfields of the PSU.

The consultant was also asked to assess the indigenous capabilities in meeting the projected technology up gradation requirement vis-a-vis import dependence and prepare a road map for technology upgradation covering the different plan periods.

Coal India, which accounts for over 80 per cent of the domestic coal production, has been drawing flak from across the quarter for missing its production target.

The company produced 462 million tonnes (MT) in the last fiscal, missing its target of 482 MT. ----- PTI