Paste fill technology

South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL) is set to become the first coal PSU in India to adopt paste fill technology for coal mining—marking a major step toward sustainable and environmentally friendly mining practices.

• To implement this innovative underground mining technology, SECL has signed a ₹7040 crore agreement with TMC Mineral Resources Private Limited.

• Paste filling is a modern underground mining method that eliminates the need to acquire surface land.

• After coal extraction, the mined-out voids are filled with a specially prepared paste made from fly ash, crushed overburden from opencast mines, cement, water, and binding chemicals.

• This process prevents land subsidence and ensures the structural stability of the mine. Importantly, the paste utilizes industrial waste materials, making the process environmentally sustainable and promoting waste recycling.

(Source: PIB)