Coal news and updates

Rakes shortage affecting despatches from CCL

March 31: Shortage of railway rakes is affecting despatches of coal from Central Coalfields Ltd (CCL), impacting cement, sponge iron and captive power consumers, industry sources told ICMW.

"There is a significant shortage of railway rakes and the long pendency is affecting supply to consumers other than power utilities," the sources said.

They further alleged that rakes earmarked for cement or captive power units are being used to despatch coal to the power plants, resulting in the lapse of rakes quota for other segments.

CCL sources, however, did not respond on the allegations, when contacted.

During April-February, 2014, CCL witnessed a negative growth of 2.6% in coal despatches to 46.60 million tons over the same period last year.