United Nations Earth Summit+5 Success Stories

EARTH SUMMIT+5
Special Session of the General Assembly to Review and Appraise
the Implementation of Agenda 21
New York, 23-27 June 1997

SUCCESS STORIES FROM INDIA

Lignite and Biotechnology

Location Neyveli, India

Responsible organization(s) Neyveli Lignite Corporation (NLC) within the Ministry of Coal. Situated in the south of India in Tamil Nedu, NLC mines 11MT of lignite annually, of which 9.5 MT are used for electricity generation. Industrial aspect of activities is supported by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO).

Description The project was initiated to facilitate the establishment of a Lignite Fuel and Energy Research Institute (LERI) at NLC in order to ensure that Indian lignite is utilised to its full potential and that environmental problem stemming from its use are minimised. One aspect of the project is to assist NLC with the industrial aspects of its work on mine spoil reclamation. The mining operations at NLC covered a huge area by mine spoil, and the problem continues to grow. NLC explored ways to overcome this concern.
The main problem is that the mine spoil is devoid of both humic substances and micro-organisms and hence unable to support crop growth. NLC undertook tests to enrich the sterile mine spoils with additives in order to transform the spoils into a suitable substrate for plant growth. The tested additives include biofertilisers, humic acid, other organic substances and inorganic fertilisers. These were tested in various combinations in a large variety of plant species including maize, millet, rice, sugarcane, fruit trees and flowers. The biofertiliser and the humic acid supplements tested are being produced on the pilot scale by NLC, and lignite itself is one of the raw materials in the production process. The biofertiliser is produced by growing five strains of micro-organisms in fermentors. These are harvested and adsorbed onto lignite to produce a jelly-like substance which is the inal product. The humic acid is currently produced from lignite by digestion with potassium hydroxide. This produces an undesirable effluent.
The project provides support towards the development of the production processes for the biofertiliser and the humic acid and a new biotechnology process for producing humic acid is being developed. In addition to reducing production costs, this will probably also alleviate the need for the harsh chemicals that are used in the present production process, and thus reduce the environmental impact of the process. It also provides an elegant solution to an environmental problem; using the material extracted from a mining operation, and biotechnology, to alleviate the environmental problem caused by the mining. NLC is also investigating biotechnology solutions to other environmental problems. These include the biological treatment of effluents, including effluent from the lignite briquetting and coking plant to reduce phenol content, and for reclamation of the ashpond which now covers more than 25 hectares. NLC is also monitoring the fate of residual chemicals in the environment.

Issues addressed The operations at NLC had, and continue to have, considerable environmental impact. The project supports the above biotechnology approach which may be able to significantly reduce some of the negative environmental effects. Many other mining sites in India, and many other developing countries with mining operations, face similar environmental problems. There is thus considerable potential for applying the products and technologies developed at NLC at other sites both within and outside of India.

Objectives To assist NLC to develop technologies which will mitigate the environmental consequences of past and present mining and related activities, and which may be replicable at other sites.

Results achieved Technologies have been developed which can effectively reduce the environment impact of mining activities.

Lessons learned Environmental protection technologies are not always restrictive to industry nor are they necessarily expensive.

Financing The Government of the Federal Republic of Germany through the Industrial Development Fund.

Contact Mr. Grant Ramsay, Chemical Industries Branch,
UNIDO Vienna International Centre
P.O. Box 400 A-1400 Vienna Austria
Telephone: (+43 1) 21131 - 3774

Copyright © United Nations
Department of Economic and Social Affairs
Comments and suggestions: esa@un.org
1 November 1997

	Lignite and Biotechnology
	Location	Neyveli, India
	Responsible organization(s)	Neyveli Lignite Corporation (NLC) within the Ministry of Coal. Situated in the south of India in Tamil Nedu, NLC mines 11MT of lignite annually, of which 9.5 MT are used for electricity generation. Industrial aspect of activities is supported by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO).
	Description	The project was initiated to facilitate the establishment of a Lignite Fuel and Energy Research Institute (LERI) at NLC in order to ensure that Indian lignite is utilised to its full potential and that environmental problem stemming from its use are minimised. One aspect of the project is to assist NLC with the industrial aspects of its work on mine spoil reclamation. The mining operations at NLC covered a huge area by mine spoil, and the problem continues to grow. NLC explored ways to overcome this concern. The main problem is that the mine spoil is devoid of both humic substances and micro-organisms and hence unable to support crop growth. NLC undertook tests to enrich the sterile mine spoils with additives in order to transform the spoils into a suitable substrate for plant growth. The tested additives include biofertilisers, humic acid, other organic substances and inorganic fertilisers. These were tested in various combinations in a large variety of plant species including maize, millet, rice, sugarcane, fruit trees and flowers. The biofertiliser and the humic acid supplements tested are being produced on the pilot scale by NLC, and lignite itself is one of the raw materials in the production process. The biofertiliser is produced by growing five strains of micro-organisms in fermentors. These are harvested and adsorbed onto lignite to produce a jelly-like substance which is the inal product. The humic acid is currently produced from lignite by digestion with potassium hydroxide. This produces an undesirable effluent. The project provides support towards the development of the production processes for the biofertiliser and the humic acid and a new biotechnology process for producing humic acid is being developed. In addition to reducing production costs, this will probably also alleviate the need for the harsh chemicals that are used in the present production process, and thus reduce the environmental impact of the process. It also provides an elegant solution to an environmental problem; using the material extracted from a mining operation, and biotechnology, to alleviate the environmental problem caused by the mining. NLC is also investigating biotechnology solutions to other environmental problems. These include the biological treatment of effluents, including effluent from the lignite briquetting and coking plant to reduce phenol content, and for reclamation of the ashpond which now covers more than 25 hectares. NLC is also monitoring the fate of residual chemicals in the environment.
	Issues addressed	The operations at NLC had, and continue to have, considerable environmental impact. The project supports the above biotechnology approach which may be able to significantly reduce some of the negative environmental effects. Many other mining sites in India, and many other developing countries with mining operations, face similar environmental problems. There is thus considerable potential for applying the products and technologies developed at NLC at other sites both within and outside of India.
	Objectives	To assist NLC to develop technologies which will mitigate the environmental consequences of past and present mining and related activities, and which may be replicable at other sites.
	Results achieved	Technologies have been developed which can effectively reduce the environment impact of mining activities.
	Lessons learned	Environmental protection technologies are not always restrictive to industry nor are they necessarily expensive.
	Financing	The Government of the Federal Republic of Germany through the Industrial Development Fund.
	Contact	Mr. Grant Ramsay, Chemical Industries Branch, UNIDO Vienna International Centre P.O. Box 400 A-1400 Vienna Austria Telephone: (+43 1) 21131 - 3774