Coal news and updates

The 42 coal blocks, which have been allowed to remain operational for another 6 months to maintain continuity in coal supply to various projects, account for 10% of the country’s total coal output and are crucial for power and steel production.

 

These blocks, over the past few years, have been mostly feeding fuel to companies in Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Orissa. While some of the blocks are operated by private companies, a sizable number are run by state owned entities.

 

A Coal Ministry official said that out of total 46 blocks, which have been allowed to remove coal for 6 more months by the Supreme Court, 42 are functional and remaining four are ready to  commence operations. The 42 functioning blocks are producing coal to the tune of 53 million tonnes and account for 10% of the total coal produced in the country.

 

The official said that the apex court verdict may lead to some disruptions in coal supply as mining from these blocks will be hampered, further exacerbating the coal shortages in the country. Naveen Jindal’s JSPL and Aditya Birla Group's Hindalco would be among the worst hit private sector companies.

 

Jindal Steel and Power (JSPL) was allocated six blocks for its sponge iron plants and 1,000 MW power plant. Its entire 12-million tonnes coal production comes from mines allocated since 1993. The de-allocation would further delay the process of securing mining rights for its much awaited Utkal B-1 mine, critical for its Angul steel-cum-power project.

 

Source - www.deccanherald.com