CIL supplied 44 MTs more coal to power during April-August over same period last fiscal

Coal India Ltd (CIL) on Thursday a said it supplied 44 million tonnes (MTs) more coal to the power sector during April-August 21, than it did a year ago in the same period, even as the power stations of the country are grappling with depleting stocks at their end.
CIL despatched close to 206 MTs of dry fuel to the coal fired power plants during the first five months of the current fiscal posting 27% growth against 162 MTs of the same period previous fiscal, it said.

Compared to a pandemic free period of April-August 2019, CIL logged 8% growth when despatches to power sector were 190.7 MTs.

“CIL’s urgency in shoring up supplies to power plants was evidenced in 104% materialization during the last week of August at an average per day supply of 1.36 MTs against the requirement of 1.31 MTs given by CEA. The last three-day average loading to power went up to 1.4 MTs,” said a senior executive of the company.

CIL has offered coal on ‘as is where’ basis through rail cum road mode from sources where high stock is available. Twenty three such mines carrying 40.3 MTs of stock as of August 16 were identified, he said.

Supply to the power plants carrying stock of zero to six days has been prioritised by preparing contingency supply plan to increase their stock.

In case of availability issues at linked mines alternative sources have already been allocated for smooth running of the plant, he said.

“With plans to ramp up production, strengthening evacuation infrastructure and adequate coal stock at our pitheads we are prepared to meet any surge in coal demand from the power sector” he said.

CIL’s total off-take at 259.3 MTs during Apri-August’21 jumped up by nearly 51 MTs, over 208.5 MTs of the same period last year, clocking 24.4% growth. CIL’s off-take held steady at 1.7 MTs per day in the last week of August.

With the monsoon receding CIL is aiming to elevate despatches to 1.8 MTs/day and beyond in September.

CIL produced 209.2 MTs of coal progressive till August’21, the increase in absolute terms being 13.6 MTs logging 7% growth. During the last week of August CIL ramped up its output at an average of 1.45 MTs/day. The average August production has never been higher than 1.25 MTs per day during the last four years, he said.