India’s pithead coal stock up by 35.48% in May y-o-y: Coal Ministry

New Delhi: An increased coal production has pushed up India's pithead coal stock by 35.48 percent year-on-year in May, said the Ministry of Coal on Thursday. "The total coal stock as of May 31, 2023 is 112.41 MT, compared to 82.97 MT on May 31, 2022, recording a growth of 35.48 percent," said the ministry. “This impressive upturn in offtake has resulted in a comfortable coal stock position, guaranteeing a reliable and abundant supply of coal lying at pithead coal stock at CIL, SCCL, stock at TPP(DCB) etc. The positive coal stock position has strengthened the capability to tackle unforeseen fluctuations in energy demand and ensures meeting the energy demands of the nation," said the Coal Ministry.

India's coal production up by 7.10% y-o-y in May

India has recorded coal production of 76.26 Million Tonnes (MT) in the month of May, which is higher by 7.10 percent when compared to the output recorded in May 2022 (71.21 MT). The production of Coal India Limited (CIL) has increased to 59.94 MT in the month of May as compared to 54.72 MT in May 2022, representing a growth of 9.54 percent. The cumulative coal production has seen a quantum jump of 149.41 MT in FY23 as compared to 138.41 MT in FY22, with a growth of 7.94 percent.

Coal dispatch up by 5.70% y-o-y in May

With increased First Mile Connectivity infrastructure, coal dispatch in the month of May was at 82.22 MT as compared to 77.79 MT in May 2022, registering a growth of 5.70 percent. Coal dispatch from captive and commercial coal blocks has been reported at 12.23 MT in May in comparison to 10.47 MT in May 2022, with a growth of 16.84 percent. The cumulative coal dispatch has registered a remarkable increment of 162.44 MT in FY 2023-24, up from 149.76 MT in FY 2022-23, with an increase of 8.47 percent.

“Further, the availability of coal rakes, which play a crucial role in coal transportation, has remained consistently good throughout this period due to the initiatives taken by the Ministry to augment rail connectivity infrastructure under PM Gati Shakti to ensure seamless evacuation of coal. This positive trend in rake availability has facilitated the smooth transportation of coal, minimised transportation bottlenecks, and ensured uninterrupted supply,” said the Coal Ministry.

“The ministry is making constant efforts to augmenting coal production. It has already moved forward with a comprehensive plan for responsible development, placing strong emphasis on fostering conscientious coal mining practices that prioritise the well-being of the environment and communities,” it added.

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