Govt tells Coal India to prioritise coal supplies to thermal power plants

• Joshi urged the management to motivate the work force in order to achieve annual production targets
• The Coal Minister told officials to adhere to 100 days' action plan to achieve the set target

New Delhi: Minister for Coal Pralhad Joshi has urged Coal India Ltd (CIL) and its subsidiaries to prioritise coal supplies to thermal power plants (TPPs) and devise an action plan to achieve annual production targets. At a meeting held on Friday with the top management of Coal India to review the status of coal availability in the country, Joshi urged the management to motivate the work force in order to achieve annual production targets. The Coal Minister told officials to adhere to 100 days' action plan to achieve the set target. 

"Held a meeting with senior officials of @CoalMinistry and @CoalIndiaHQ to review status of coal availability in the country. So far, CIL has produced 413.6 MT coal in the FY 2021-22. Urged management to motivate #CoalWarriors to strive towards achieving annual target," said Joshi in a tweet after the meeting.

"He also emphasised on prioritising coal supplies to thermal power plants. The minister reiterated the importance of enhancing production with safety," said an official statement released by the Ministry of Coal.

Coal India ramping up coal supplies to thermal power plants

The meeting comes weeks after Coal India said in a statement that it plans to raise coal stock at thermal power plants to over 45 Million Tonnes (MT) by the end of FY22. "CIL is aiming for the highest-ever closing stock at power plants. The previous high was 45 MTs in 2020," the coal miner said in an official statement. The intent is to maintain a steady supply of coal to power plants during summer and monsoon months to avoid disproportionate demand-despatch scenario, which precipitated the recent coal crisis. The focus is also to reduce coal imports in substitutable category, said CIL.

Joshi holds meeting with Chhattisgarh CM

Separately, Joshi also held a virtual meeting with Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel where he sought an early resolution of various land related issues of South Eastern Coalfields Ltd (SECL) in the state. The Union Minister pointed out that production of coal can be further increased from the state of Chattisgarh if such issues are resolved at the earliest. Joshi also requested the Chief Minister to expedite auction of mineral blocks as per the recent reforms brought about in the mineral sector.

(PSU Watch– India's Business News centre that places the spotlight on PSUs, Bureaucracy, Defence and Public Policy is now on Google News. Click here to follow. Also, join PSU Watch Channel in your Telegram. You may also follow us on Twitter here and stay updated.)