Coal news and updates

Tangedco forms coal quality assurance wing at collieries and thermal plants

Chennai: In order to comply with the recommendations of a Comptroller Audit General (CAG) report, Tangedco, has formed a full fledged coal quality assurance wing to assess coal quality at collieries and thermal plants.
A February 7 order said it will he headed by a superintendent engineer from mechanical/mines wing who will report directly to the director (generation). There will be an executive engineer and two assistant executive engineers, assisting the SE. “Tangedco should revamp the entire system of assessment of quality and quantity of coal in order to reduce the cost of generation and tariff,” the order quoted the CAG report.
A centralised laboratory exclusively for testing coal in Chennai with the latest testing equipment and dispensing of testing of coal at thermal power stations will also be set up. The CAG report for the year ended March 31, 2019, cited lack of efficiency and effectiveness of the present system of assessing quality and quantity of coal and said it was fraught with several organisational, practical, logistical, procedural and human resources issues. It recommended constituting a separate quality assurance wing for ensuring quality of coal and all material and equipment procured. It added that procurement and quality assurance should be done by different agencies.
A Tangedco official said that so far coal quantity is measured based on plimsoll line or waterline in ships. If there is any difference found in the quantity, the money equivalent to the depreciation will be deducted on the payment. While 95% of the cost is paid during the agreement, 5% is withheld till the supply to thermal plants to adjust for the quantity issues.