Coal supply rises as rains recede, stocks recover at critical plants

NEW DELHI: Coal loading increased to 444 rakes Sunday, gradually, from 370 rakes on September 3, offering relief to thermal power plants facing a shortage of the fossil fuel. Northern Coalfields Ltd , Central Coalfields Ltd (CCL), and South Eastern Coalfields Ltd (SECL), subsidiaries of Coal India , gradually started restoring operations at mines impacted by incessant monsoon rains, the coal ministry said in a statement Monday. Coal India's average daily coal production, rose by 35% to around 1.83 million tonnes on September 6 against around 1.36 million tonnes during the first three rain-affected days of September. The average daily despatch to the power sector increased by 24% from around 1.37 million tonnes during the first three days of September to 1.7 million tonnes as on September 6. An inter-ministerial committee met last Friday to review the coal shortage crisis and discuss ways to boost supplies as stocks at several power plants fell to critical levels, a government official told ET. Supplies from captive coal mines were also affected by the rains but have since started to recover gradually. The increase in rail loading is expected to support higher coal movement to generating stations as the government seeks to maintain availability amid seasonal pressure on coal production and power demand. The number of critical thermal plants, with stocks below 25% of normative requirement, are being closely monitored, with corrective coal supply measures in place to further ease their stock positions. The coal ministry and Coal India remain committed to sustaining this improving trend in rake loading to the power sector and meeting the requirements, the statement said.