Gainwell Engineering Private Limited (GEPL) has delivered the first-ever domestically manufactured room and pillar mining equipment package to esteemed Indian customer Eastern Coalfields Limited.
The equipment, which the company said marks a significant milestone for the nation’s manufacturing and coal mining sector, is what Gainwell has called a furthering of 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.
The underground mining machines, a continuous miner (Model GCM345) and feeder breaker (Model GFB110), are stellar examples of Indigenous engineering excellence and technological innovation. They were manufactured at Gainwell Engineering’s state-of-the-art facility at Panagarh, West Bengal.
Complementing these advanced machines, the package also includes globally recognized 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 healthy mix of fossil fuels and renewables sources of energy to fuel the developmental needs of a rapidly growing economy,” Gainwell officials pointed out. “The Ministry of Coal has set ambitious production targets, aiming for 1.3 billion tonnes of domestic coal production by FY2026 and 1.51 billion tonnes by FY2030. Coal currently accounts for approximately 56% of India’s primary commercial energy demand, with coal-based power generation contributing 72% to total electricity production.
“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 tonnes of coal by 2030 from underground mining projects. The company has planned for 140 continuous miners projects to achieve this goal. Gainwell Engineering is well positioned and has created capacity to meet this demand fully while achieving its export targets.”
Gainwell Engineering has also recently exported from its Panagarh facility and commissioned a state of the art 370-ton highwall miner, a precision-engineered equipment for a customer in Queensland, Australia, in Q4 2024 while the continuous miner will make a debut in the U.S. in Q3 of 2025.
Source: gainwellengineering.com