Gainwell Engineering unveils India’s first indigenously manufactured room and pillar mining equipment
Gainwell Engineering Private Limited (GEPL) has delivered the first-ever domestically manufactured room and pillar mining equipment package to its esteemed customer Eastern Coalfields Limited, marking a significant milestone for the nation’s manufacturing and coal mining sector.
This major achievement furthers India’s efforts to establish itself as a global hub for manufacturing excellence while promoting the ‘Make in India’ initiative in an otherwise imports dependent sector, as envisioned by the Prime Minister. It has also begun a new chapter in strengthening the nation’s vision for self-reliance in manufacturing of high-end capital goods.
The underground mining machines, Continuous Miner (Model GCM345) and Feeder Breaker (Model GFB110), are stellar examples of indigenous engineering excellence and technological innovation. These machines have been manufactured at Gainwell Engineering’s state-of-the-art facility at Panagarh, West Bengal.
Gainwell Engineering secured the intellectual property (IP) license for the room & pillar equipment technology from Caterpillar in 2021, ensuring the adoption of the latest and most efficient mining technologies. Complementing these advanced machines, the package also includes globally recognised equipment: Phillips Global Shuttle Cars, RHAM Roof Bolters, and AllenWest Power Centres. Together, they form a robust ensemble set to redefine efficiency and safety in mining operations.
India is committed to become self-reliant in its energy sector, with a mix of fossil fuels and renewables sources of energy to fuel the developmental needs of a rapidly growing economy. The Ministry of Coal has set ambitious production targets, aiming for 1.3 billion t of domestic coal production by FY26, and 1.51 billion t by FY30. Coal currently accounts for approximately 56% of India’s primary commercial energy demand, with coal-based power generation contributing 72% to total electricity production.
The UG Coal Vision Plan of Coal India Ltd. highlights the continued importance of coal in India’s energy mix, while emphasising the adoption of environmentally sustainable mining techniques. The depletion of shallow, opencast coal reserves necessitates a transition to more sustainable, socially responsible underground mining practices. Continuous miners are set to play a crucial role in this shift towards efficient underground mining solutions. Coal India has set an ambitious target of producing 100 million t of coal by 2030 from underground mining projects. The company has planned for 140 continuous miner projects to achieve this goal. Gainwell Engineering is well positioned and has created capacity to meet this demand fully while achieving its export targets.
Read the article online at: https://www.worldcoal.com/mining/11022025/gainwell-engineering-unveils-indias-first-indigenously-manufactured-room-and-pillar-mining-equipment/