MCL offers additional 22.5 lakh tonne coal to power sector as production rises

• Coal stocks are currently at 12.5 MT and are set to rise further as MCL pushes for higher production, said the coal miner
• In FY22, MCL has produced 123 MT of coal so far

New Delhi: Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL), a subsidiary of Coal India Ltd (CIL), has offered an additional 22.5 lakh tonne coal to power consumers via road-cum-rail (RCR) mode as coal stock rises above 12.5 Million Tonnes (MT) at its mines with gradual increase in coal production in the final quarter of financial year 2021-22, said MCL in an official statement on Tuesday. MCL is looking for opportunities to maximise despatch as coal stock at its mines is slated to increase further with increase in production from its coal mines in Odisha. 

In order to liquidate coal stocks, the offer of supplying an additional 22.5 lakh tonne coal through RCR to power sector consumers was made. Around 18 lakh tonne coal was allocated to Central and state power generating companies (gencos) in November and December 2021, aiding MCL in liquidating stocks, said the coal miner.

Power sector has lifted 8.5 lakh tonne coal from MCL so far

Till date more than 8.5 lakh tonne coal, equivalent to about 225 rakes, has already been lifted by Central and state gencos to build up stocks at their power plants. They are lifting coal from various mines of MCL and transporting the same to their plants through nearby goods-shed sidings, like Nirgundi, Rajathgarh, Hindol Road, Laikera Siding etc.

MCL had 12.2 MT coal stock at its mines on January 1 and the same is increasing with gradual increase in coal production.

MCL FY22 coal production at 123 MT so far

The Coal India subsidiary, which alone contributes more than one-fourth of the total coal production, has produced 123 MT of coal so far, with a growth of 15 percent over the last financial year. Similarly, record overburden removal of 156 million cubic meters, which marks a growth of about 20 percent over FY21, has ensured the availability of sufficient coal to further accelerate coal production. MCL is aiming to achieve the highest-ever coal production in FY22. MCL has a coal production target of 163 million tonne for financial year 2021-22.

The company is aggressively implementing first-mile connectivity projects with a capital outlay of Rs 3,600 crore for the rapid movement of coal to consumers. The projects are scheduled to be implemented by 2024.

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