Coal news and updates

Mahagenco signs deal with 3 coal companies

Nashik: The Maharashtra State Power Generation Co Ltd (Mahagenco), in order to ensure adequate backup of coal during the monsoon, has signed agreements with three companies to buy an additional 13 lakh tonne of coal for its seven power stations.
The decision to buy additional coal — 2 lakh tonne from the Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd (MCL), 5 lakh tonne from the South Eastern Coalfields Ltd (SECL), and 6 lakh tonne from the Singareni Collieries Company Ltd (SCCL) — was taken after considering the fact that starting from June, daily supply from coal companies could decline for three months.

An official from Mahagenco told TOI that over 7 lakh tonne of additional coal has already reached Maharashtra and the remaining quantity would arrive by the end of next month.
“This additional coal being bought from MCL, SECL and SCCL is apart from the 40 million tonne of coal that Mahagenco buys annually from these three companies,” the official said.

“During the June-August period daily coal supply declines by at least 10,000-15,000 tonne since mining activity becomes difficult due to rainfall. So, this additional coal would serve as backup to ensure there is no scarcity at the seven thermal power stations during monsoon,” the official added.
Under the guidance of Mahagenco CMD Sanjay Khandare, a team led by director (mines) Purushottam Jadhav prepared a plan for unhindered availability of coal to the thermal power stations (TPSs) ever since the coal crisis hit the country. “We have resolved to have a coal inventory of at least 15,000 lakh tonne by the end of June. This backup along with the daily supply from coal companies will enable Mahagenco to meet the coal requirement of its TPSs between June and August,” the official said.
Currently, Mahagenco is getting around 1.4 lakh tonne of coal every day against its requirement of around 1.3 lakh tonne. Moreover, Mahagenco has started the process of importing 20 lakh tonne of coal from Indonesia in phases. The first lot of 1.5 lakh tonne has arrived and is in the process of distribution to various TPSs