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Extreme heat takes toll on coal output; state governments ask Coal India to alter production schedule

Extreme heat is taking a toll on coal production. State governments have asked certain subsidiaries of Coal India to halt production or stagger shifts during the day to reduce exposure to soaring temperatures. The Odisha government has told Mahanadi Coalfields to halt production and coal loading between 11 am and 4 pm until June 15.

According to an official from Mahanadi Coalfields, the work stoppage during this period is expected to affect production by about 10 per cent. However, with output having outstripped targets in previous periods, overall production may not be affected much.

In Jharkhand and West Bengal, Coal India subsidiaries Eastern Coalfields, Central Coalfields and Bharat Coking Coal have been staggering their shifts to avoid work at open cast mines during the scorching heat. "Shifts that are to start from 6 am are being started an hour earlier and during the extreme heat period, during noon, equipment is being made to idle and and lunch periods are being extended to avoid working during the afternoon, when it is the hottest," Coal India officials said.

Most of Coal India's mines are open cast and are more affected by heat than underground mines.

The extreme hot weather spell will be followed by the monsoon, when Coal India faces another problem - waterlogging in the mines, which makes extraction difficult. It is only after monsoon that coal production starts to peak. Currently, power generation companies are well-stocked with coal. According to data released by the Central Electricity Authority, coal stocks at power plants are at an all-time high of 30 million tonnes, enough for 21 days. Some power companies have even asked coal companies to go easy on supplies because their stockyards are full.

source: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com