Coal news and updates

Rakes shortage affecting despatches from SECL

June 10: Shortage of railway rakes is affecting despatches of coal from South Eastern Coalfields Ltd (SECL) and Central Coalfields Ltd (CCL), impacting cement, sponge iron and captive power consumers, industry sources told ICMW.

“At SECL, there was hardly any loading for the industry in the first seven days this month. Despatches for power utilities, however, were regular,” the sources said.
“Generally, during the first 2-3 days, we face a problem, but this time there was practically no loading for industry for a week,” they said, adding that “If the rake pendency is not met with, it will lead to the lapse of rakes quota and linkage coal.”

A similar situation was being faced at Central Coalfields Ltd (CCL), they added.

Both SECL and CCL have reported a negative growth in off-take during the period April-May 2014, compared to the same period last year. SECL achieved 20.29 million tons (mt) of off-take or 89% of its target, while CCL recorded 8.94 mt of off-take or 92% of its target set for the period.