Talcher Coalfield

Talcher Coalfield is located in Angul district in the Indian state of Odisha, in the valley of the Brahmani.

The coalfield
According to Geological Survey of India, the Talcher Coalfield has reserves of 38.65 billion tonnes, the highest in India.

Talcher Coalfield covers an area of 500 km2. The coal is of lower grade containing only about 35 per cent of fixed carbon, 70 per cent volatile matter and 25 per cent ash content. As of 2011, nearly one hundred thousand tonnes of coal is dispatched daily to power stations in Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal and other parts of India.

History
Coal was discovered in the Talcher Coalfields at Gopalprasad in 1837. Handidhua Colliery was opened by M/s Villiers in 1921. NCDC opened several mines – at South Balanda in 1960, Nandira in 1962 and Jagannath in 1972. Production rose from 0.91 million tonnes in 1972-73 to 33.10 million tonnes in 2001-02. Talcher Coalfield is subdivided into five production/ administrative areas: Talcher, Jagannath, Kalinga, Lingaraj and Hingula.

Transport
Talcher Coalfield was linked by a rail line taking off from Nergundi on the east coast in 1922.