Exploration of coal reserves in the country is carried out in two stages. In the first stage, Geological Survey of India(GSI) undertakes Regional Exploration for locating potential coal bearing areas on a continuous basis. In order to supplement the efforts of Regional Exploration, services of GSI and Mineral Exploration Corporation (MECL) have also been engaged for carrying out Promotional Regional Exploration .
In the second stage, Detailed Exploration is carried out. Central Mine Planning and Design Institute Ltd. (CMPDI) directly as well as through Mineral Exploration Corporation , State Govts. and private agencies carry out detailed exploration, for the purpose of mine planning and exploitation of coal reserves for meeting the demand of different sectors of the economy. The detailed exploration in the command area of SCCL is carried out departmentally. Priorities of various projects/blocks, taken up for Detailed Exploration, are decided taking into account factors like emerging demand and its location, availability of infrastructure for coal evacuation and techno-economics of the mine development including coal quality.
For further Details on Exploration see Annual Report (Chapter IV).