New Delhi, Oct 29 (PTI) In the backdrop of robust demandfor coal, the government has asked CIL to ramp up theproduction and dispatch to 2 million tonnes per day againstaround 1.6 MT at present, a top official said.
The direction to Coal India (CIL) comes at a time whenthe power plants in the country have low fuel stocks.
"Coal demand is robust......I have asked Coal India (CIL)to start dispatching and producing 2 million tonnes (MT) perday. Currently, they are doing about 1.6 MT of dispatch. So,the goal for Coal India is to produce 2 MT per day, dispatch 2MT per day against the current 1.6. MT," Coal SecretarySusheel Kumar told PTI.
Kumar also exuded confidence that the PSU would be ableto achieve the goal as the monsoons were over and added that"it cannot happen overnight but they have to do it".
The dispatch of coal to the power sector in the month ofAugust has been 14.4 per cent higher compared to the samemonth last year, and 22 per cent higher in September asagainst the same month last year, Kumar said.
In view of increased demand for coal, the Secretary saidthe government has also asked CIL to liquidate its stock atpithead and bring it down to nil from present 30 milliontonnes.
"Stocks at the pithead were about 69 MT at the start ofthis financial year...That has come down to 30 (MT) which isgood and I have asked Coal India that old stock should be madezero. First in, first out should be the goal. Now, whateverstocks will remain would be fresh stock of few months," thesecretary said.
In order to liquidate the old stock, Kumar said, CIL isdispatching vigorously.
"I have feeling that all old stock (of 30 MT) will beliquidated by March 31," he said.
Kumar had earlier blamed power producers for low coalstocks at plants and had asserted that there was no shortageof coal and plants should adhere to the Central ElectricityAuthority's guidelines for stocking of the dry fuel.
The secretary had said if power plants do not stock dryfuel as per the guidelines of the CEA, then during monsoonsthere would be disruptions and they should face it.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had this monthasked the Centre to ensure adequate supply of coal and earlyallocation of a coal block situated in Odisha to meet thesevere fuel shortage being faced by power units in his state.
Rajasthan Urja Vikas Nigam had last month said powergeneration at thermal power stations has reduced by 2,700 MWdue to shortage of coal, forcing it to resort to load sheddingin the state. PTI SIDBAL.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.