Coal news and updates

Linkage coal from SECL pending for 2 months: CPPs

August 6: Despatch of linkage coal from South Eastern Coalfields Ltd (SECL) to captive power plants (CPPs) and cement kilns is pending for the months of June and July, 2014, according to the industry sources.

“As was the case in June, we did not get supply of linkage coal from SECL in July either. Allotment, supply and loading of rakes are pending for two months now,” said a source.

The rake shortage has accentuated in recent months as coal miners tried to meet the ever-increasing requirement of the power sector. As per the government policy, the large utilities and independent power producers (IPPs) get priority in rake movement ahead of other sectors such as cement, sponge iron and CPPs.

The monthly quota for CPPs and cement units for coal despatches from SECL is around 150 rakes. The source said that they have sought redress from the government but to no avail, he added.