As the Kashmir Valley endures another harsh winter marked by prolonged power outages and sub-zero temperatures, the Jammu and Kashmir administration has revisited a century-old idea buried in its geological archives: lignite. In a significant move, authorities have restarted detailed exploration at the Nicha Hama lignite deposits in Kupwara district, more than three decades after militancy forced all operations to a halt.
A Century-Old Promise Resurrected
The story of Nicha Hama's lignite is not new. Archival records from the Geological Survey of India reveal that systematic investigations in the early 1920s confirmed extensive, continuous seams of the fuel. Studies conducted then estimated reserves running into tens of millions of tonnes. However, experts of that era cautioned that its industrial use would depend heavily on the availability of suitable technology.
Laboratory analyses from that period characterized the Nicha Hama lignite as a moderate-grade fuel. It has an average ash content of around 30%, moisture levels of roughly 15%, and a calorific value higher than firewood but lower than good-quality coal. These properties have historically limited its direct industrial application.
Official interest, however, persisted for decades. The Indian Bureau of Mines mapped the seam in detail between 1960 and 1963. In the early 1980s, Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL) prepared a feasibility report for a 60 MW thermal power station based on this local resource. Later, in 1984, the Neyveli Lignite Corporation Ltd (NLC) assessed the viability of a winter-only plant. The project stalled after NLC raised concerns over data gaps, seam continuity, and fuel quality.
From Active Industry to Abandoned Hope
Located about 21 km west of Handwara and 94 km from Srinagar, Nicha Hama was once a site of active industry. Before operations stopped abruptly in December 1989, J&K Minerals Ltd was extracting lignite and converting it into briquettes at a unit in Srinagar's Zainakote Industrial Estate.
Bashir Ahmad Peer, a 60-year-old resident, recalls that era vividly. "Back then, nearly 300 people from this village and adjoining areas were working here," he told Mint. The work provided crucial local employment, though it was labor-intensive, involving the removal of massive layers of overburden to reach the soft, brown-to-black fuel.
The idea resurfaced in 2009 during the Omar Abdullah-led government, which approached the Union coal ministry for a fresh assessment. At that time, the J&K government estimated over seven million tonnes of available lignite, even as experts continued to warn about its inferior grade.
The New Push and Persistent Challenges
The current revival began after the J&K Geology and Mining Department approached the Mineral Exploration Corporation Ltd (MECL) and the Union Secretary of Mines in 2023. Mohammad Yaseen Bhat, a senior geologist with the department, stated that following a state government request, the Union coal ministry greenlit the renewed investigations.
The plan involves about 5,000 metres of drilling, with the exercise expected to conclude by June or July 2026. MECL will then prepare a comprehensive feasibility report covering resource estimates, quality, and potential uses. Mumtaz Ahmad Shah, the district mineral officer in Kupwara, said testing will determine if the lignite is fit for power generation or could be used in brick kilns and cement factories.
Geologists and engineers are divided on the project's potential. Proponents argue that properly utilized lignite could power the Valley’s first thermal plant, providing an indigenous baseload source. This is critical for a region that imported nearly 80% of its electricity in 2022 and took a staggering ₹31,000 crore loan to clear dues to external power suppliers.
Mir Aijaz, a professor of civil engineering at the Islamic University of Science and Technology Kashmir, emphasizes the technology hurdle. "The real question is whether we have the technology required to harness them," he said.
Skeptics like Iftikhar A Drabu, a consulting civil engineer, warn that the fuel's low grade, high moisture, and ash content could make it economically and ecologically unviable, especially in Kashmir's fragile ecosystem. He also challenges the over-reliance on hydropower, noting that with receding glaciers and erratic river flows, its capacity could shrink in the coming decades.
The final decision rests on a hard assessment of quality, cost, and environmental impact. The Centre will later decide whether to allocate the block through tender or e-auction, a move with profound implications for Kashmir's energy independence and local economy.
