Coal news and updates

Inadequate stocking space at TPPs limiting despatch: MCL

June 26: Amid reports that a number of thermal power plants (TPPs) are declining to lift linkage coal, Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd (MCL) has alleged that inadequate stocking space at TPPs is limiting its coal despatch.

“Actually, the power plants don’t have adequate space to hold stockpile,” MCL chairman-cum-managing director A N Sahay told ICMW.

“In 2013-14, Coal India despatched 32 mt more coal than the previous year, most of which was catered to the power sector. From April onward, everybody started telling us and we started getting letters from the state governments about the excess supply,” Sahay said.

“In fact, last year we could have supplied 10 mt more. If 30 mt had created so much fracas what will happen this year? In 2014-15, we are aiming to increase our coal despatch by 50 mt to around 512 mt, compared to 472 mt in 2013-14,” he added.

About MCL, he said, “This year MCL will be supplying them much more. The Kaniha mine has reopened and Lingaraj’s problem has been sorted out. So, this year the supply will be much more. Initially there was some problem with production, but now you can anticipate strong growth from the third quarter, October onwards.”