Coal news and updates

Gangavaram Port continues to witness rake shortage

January 7: Gangavaram Port, on the east coast of India, is witnessing severe shortage of rake supplies which is leading to disruption in supplies of imported steam coal and pet coke to non-power sector consumers, industry sources said.

The port is receiving only around 15 rakes per month or one rake every two days instead of the required 25 rakes per month. Because of this, supplies to the extent of 35,000 tons of coal is getting disrupted, sources claimed,

The port could not be contacted by ICMW for comments.

There has been some improvement in rake supplies in recent days but the overall situation continues to remain serious, a shipping industry sources said, adding, coal stocks at the port were running high at around 1.9-2.0 million tons towards the end of December, 2014.

Incidentally, almost all major ports, particularly on the eastern coast of India, are facing rake shortages as the government has directed Railways to accord priority to loading of coal for power sector consumers.

Incidentally, vessels carrying steam coal for power plants are also given priority in berthing at most of the ports in order to ensure smooth supplies of coal for power generation, a port official had earlier told ICMW.