Coal news and updates

Heavy rains impact ECL’s coal off-take at Rajmahal, Sonpurbazari

July 3: Heavy rains have impacted coal off-take at Rajmahal and Sonpurbazari projects of Eastern Coalfields Ltd (ECL), a top company official told ICMW.

“We are suffering because of heavy rains. In some areas, coal exposure has suffered because of heavy rains and we are not able to produce coal,” ECL Chairman-cum-Managing Director Rkaesh Sinha said.

In Rajmahal project, there was a local seam where to some extent the mining was happening, but in absence of the proper seam the company had to stop mining as coal quality of that seam is not that good unless it is blended with proper coal, the Sinha said.

Then in Sonpurbazari, there was 74 mm rain on June 30 and as such production is suffering badly, he said.

He, however, termed the phenomenon as a “general trend” found every year in monsoon and said the situation will improve as the rains receded.

Despite adverse weather condition, overall production of ECL was slightly higher between April and June as compared to corresponding period of previous year, “but that rise is not up to the mark. I am confident that situation will improve in coming days,” Sinha added.

Sinha further said that “Because of the increased linkage, our off-take is up by around 17%, but in June, off-take was not so good. Now if rain stops slightly, then off-take will improve to some extent.”