Coal news and updates

IR provides 1,528 rakes till Sept 22 for imported coal loading

September 27: Indian Railways (IR) had provided a total of 1,528 rakes at an average of 69.5 rakes per day for loading and transport of imported coal through various ports of the country between September 1 and 22, a senior official told ICMW.

"The highest number of 78 rakes for loading of imported coal across the country was provided on September 4 and 21 whereas the lowest number of 58 rakes was provided on September 17," the official told.

One rake carries 3,500-3,600 tons of imported coal.

"We have set an internal target of providing 70-75 rakes per day for loading and transport of imported coal through various ports during the non-peak period and expect no change in this figures even in the peak period starting from December as we do not expect major increase in arrival of imported coal during that period," the official added.

Meanwhile, the transporter provided a total of 4,371 numbers of rakes to various subsidiaries of coal between September 1 and 22 at daily average of 198.7 rakes per day.

"The higher number of 216 rakes was loaded through various subsidiaries of CIL on September 14 and the lowest ,ie, 151 rakes, were loaded on September 17," the official said, indicating the loading was affected substantially on September 17, the day on which Viswakarma Puja is celebrated throughout the country.

In addition, the loading of raw as well as washed coal from various mines of the Singareni Collieries Company Ltd (SCCL) stood at 434 during the period at an average of 19.7 rakes per day, the official said.

The following table shows company-wise total and average per day supply of rakes by Indian Railways for transport of coal during the period September 1-22, 2013: