Coal news and updates

In a move to increase coal production to meet the huge power demand, the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests, (MoEF) has decided to do away with the public hearing needed for expansion of big coal mining projects.

 

This will come as a relief to public sector Coal India Ltd (CIL) and some private players as several of their coal mining projects are held up for want of environmental clearance. The move comes following Power Minister Piyush Goyal writing to Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar for further dispensation in granting Environment Clearance for expansion of coal mining projects, so as to quickly ramp-up coal production for enhancing power production, in public interest.

 

The Environment Ministry said that it has been decided that in respect of one time capacity expansion proposals of existing coal mining projects with production capacity exceeding 20 MTPA (big projects), the EAC (Environment Appraisal Committee) may after due diligence consider exempting public hearing if the transportation of additional production of coal is proposed by means of a conveyor and/ or rail transport.

 

Officials from the Power and Coal Ministries have been regularly holding meeting with MoEF officials to ensure that coal projects stuck for clearances are expedited to meet the rising power demand.

 

The MoEF has also taken policy measures to ensure that key projects are not delayed for want of green nod. According to MoEF officials, new projects seeking expansion of coal mining stuck in MoEF are being taken on priority basis as the coal stocks are reducing.

 

The data released by the coal ministry shows that 56 thermal power plants in the country have less than seven days of coal stocks, including 27 where supplies would last under four days. These levels are even lower than 2012, when northern India faced the worst blackout due to power shortage.

 

Power Plan

 

The Centre will soon roll out a plan for providing 24-hour power supply in Andhra Pradesh, Delhi and Rajasthan, Union Power Minister Piyush Goyal has said.

 

With the Supreme Court is set to give its final verdict in the coal scam, the government said it was ready to face any eventuality.

 

“The government is ready for any eventuality. We have our plans ready irrespective of any orders. We are waiting for the final court verdict,” Goyal, who also holds the coals portfolio, said.

 

Refuting reports of coal shortages, he said the coal production had increased by 10 MT from April to July this year over last year’s same quarter. While the import figures remained the same, the coal consumption had increased by 9.6 per cent mainly due to the increasesd use by power plants.

 

 

Source: http://www.newindianexpress.com/