The IntelliMine mine management system will be trialled at Bengal Emila Coal Mines' openpit operation in the Chandapur region of western India.

 

If successful, the system will be rolled out across Bengal Emila's three other existing coal operations, as well as at future developments.

 

Modular took two years to persuade the Indian company to sign. Bengal Emila managing director UK Upadhaya said he chose IntelliMine for the company's first foray into an electronic monitoring system because the application fitted its needs best.

 

"If there was any other company which can better Modular, I would tell Modular "goodbye to you, I am going there," he said.

 

Bengal Emila produces 10- 12 million tonnes of thermal coal a year from four mines throughout India, with plans to ramp up to 50- 60Mtpa over the next five years from a reserve base of 4 billion tonnes.

 

Modular's manager of new sales in the Australasian region, Greg Sweeney, told MiningNewsPremium.net on the sidelines of the AIMEX mining exhibition in Sydney, he expected the Bengal Emila deal to be a significant sale given the group's expansion plans.

 

"We know that there are a number of [Bengal Emila] operations and we could guesstimate it - you're talking several million dollars - but we haven't firmed it up. They're very much in expansion mode," Sweeney said.

 

Modular established an Indian subsidiary based in Mumbai in April last year. There are currently a couple of Modular and Wenco MPMS installations at mines in the subcontinent and Sweeney sees strong potential for new sales over the next 12 months.