Coal news and updates

Coal India bracing for a difficult Q1

April 11: Coal India Limited (CIL) is gearing up to face a difficult first quarter (April-June, 2014) when production is likely to be under pressure due to various reasons, including difficult weather conditions, a senior official told ICMW.

"Production generally gets affected due to the excessive heat and rise in absenteeism, but we will see what can be done to restrict its impact," the official said.

He pointed out that it is not only absenteeism, as employees tend to take leave to take advantage of their wards’ school vacations, but an overall fall in the efficiency level is perceived around this time due to the excessive heat as well, which impacts production.

The impact of summer is more visible in the open cast mines which affect productivity.

"It is going to be challenge in the first quarter of 2014-15 as unlike in Q1 of 2013-14, there is increased demand for coal from power utilities," the official added.