In order to foster competitiveness among mines and recognize their outstanding performance based on compliance with statutory provisions, adoption of advanced mining technology, and economic achievements, the Ministry of Coal has announced the commencement of the Star Rating Registration process for Coal and Lignite Mines for the financial year 2022-23. The Star Rating policy is designed to assess mines based on a range of factors across seven key parameters, ensuring a thorough evaluation of their operations and practices.
Star Rating Registration Process
Notification and Opening of the Registration Portal
The notification regarding the registration of all Coal and Lignite mines for the Star Rating program was issued on May 30, 2023. The Star Rating portal for registration was subsequently opened on 01.06.2023, providing an opportunity for mines to participate and showcase their performance. The Ministry is pleased to note that up to 19.06.2023, a total of 376 mines have already applied for participation, which marks the highest number of participating mines since the program’s inception in 2018-19. The portal will remain open for registration until 30.06.2023, allowing more mines to register and join the evaluation process.
Self-Evaluation and Validation
Participating mines are strongly encouraged to undertake a comprehensive self-evaluation process, which should be completed by July 31, 2023. This self-evaluation allows mines to assess their performance across the seven key parameters and identify areas for improvement. Upon completion, the top 10% of the highest-scoring mines will be selected for further validation through an inspection conducted by a committee. This validation process ensures the accuracy and reliability of the self-evaluation results. The remaining 90% of the mines will go through an online review process, where participants have the opportunity to contribute to the evaluation by reviewing other mines. This collaborative approach fosters a sense of shared responsibility and continuous improvement within the mining community.
Comprehensive Review and Publication of Results
The comprehensive review, which includes the inspection of the top-scoring mines and the online review process for the remaining mines, will be finalized by October 31, 2023. This thorough evaluation is conducted by the Coal Controller’s Organization, ensuring transparency and impartiality in the assessment. Following the comprehensive review, a Coal Controller review will be conducted to ensure the accuracy and consistency of the evaluation results. Finally, the Ministry will publish the final results by January 31, 2024, recognizing the achievements of each mine and awarding them a star rating based on their performance.
Parameters for Evaluation
The Star Rating policy evaluates mines based on seven key parameters, each of which plays a crucial role in the overall assessment of a mine’s performance:
- Mining Operations: This parameter assesses the efficiency, productivity, and adherence to regulations in the mining operations of a mine.
- Environment-related Parameters: The evaluation of environment-related parameters focuses on the measures taken by a mine to minimize its impact on the environment and promote sustainable mining practices.
- Adoption of Technologies: This parameter evaluates the level of technological advancements implemented by a mine to enhance efficiency, safety, and productivity in mining operations.
- Best Mining Practices: The assessment of best mining practices examines the adherence to industry standards and the implementation of practices that ensure safe and responsible mining.
- Economic Performance: This parameter measures the economic achievements of a mine, including factors such as revenue generation, cost management, and contribution to the local and national economy.
