Maharashtra preserves 3.44 per cent of the total coal reserves of the country and contributes 9.29% of the total national output.
The bulk of the deposits lie in Chandrapur (Wardlia valley), Nagpur (Kamptee), and Yeotmal (Ballarpur and Wun) districts which are utilised by the railways and thermal power stations at Trombay, Chola (Kalyan), Khaperkheda, Paras, Bhusawal, Ballarshah, Nashik and Koradi.
(a) Wardha valley coal-fields at Chandrapur, Ghughus and Warora are important with total estimated reserves of4, 240 million tonnes of low grade coal. Here coal has 9.78%-ll% of moisture, 29.60- 35.35% of volatile matter, 41.12-80.50% of fixed carbon and 14.15-18.06% of ash content.
(b) Kamptee coalfield lies north of Kanhan railway station in Nagpur district. Its one seam lies below 25 m of depth and has a thickness of 7 m. Here estimated coal reserves are 1,372 million tones. The composition includes 7.84% of moisture, 30.90% of volatile matter, 38.33% of fixed carbon, and 22.72% of ash.
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(c) Bander coal field with estimated reserve of 200 million tones covers a total area of 15.36 sq km. It has four workable coal seams.