Raise coal supply to power plants during Durga Puja: Govt tells CIL

Union coal minister Pralhad Joshi (right) along with MoS rail Raosaheb Danve, during the launch of 3rd tranche of auction for commercial mining of coal, in New Delhi, on Tuesday. Pic/PTI

The government has asked state-owned Coal India Ltd (CIL) to augment the supply to power producers to 1.55-1.6 million tonnes (MT) per day around the Durga Puja period, and to further scale it to 1.7 MT per day after October 20, according to a source.

The development assumes significance in the wake of the country's power plants grappling with coal shortages in the country at a time when the festival season has already begun.

"Yesterday [Monday], there was a meeting in Delhi and Coal India was asked to do (supply of) 1.55-1.6 million tonnes (of coal to power sector) per day around Puja time; and after October 20, the public sector undertaking is supposed to do 1.7 MT per day," the source privy to the development said.

The coal dispatches by CIL to the power sector on Monday stood at 1.615 MT. The coal stocks at power plants will start building up from November 1 onwards, the source said. "They (power plants) didn't replenish their stocks. Many of them took that risk. So, they are paying for it now," the source added.

1.55-1.6mt
Amount the govt has asked CIL to supply to power producers

This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever