Coal news and updates

TNPGCL Moves Closer to Securing Own Colliery for Coal Supply

Tamil Nadu Power Generation Corporation Ltd (TNPGCL) is advancing towards acquiring its own colliery to meet the growing demand for domestic coal. TNPGCL is set to appoint a consultant for the development of the Sakhigopal-B Kakurhi coal block in Odisha’s Angul district, which was won by the corporation in a 2024 auction.

The coal block, spread across 6.53 sq km, contains 421.44 million metric tonnes of G11 grade coal. The consultant will assist in selecting an exploration agency and finalizing a bidder to mine and transport coal to TNPGCL’s thermal plants.

The consultant will review geo-mining data, geological reports, and identify additional studies such as drilling and geophysical investigations. They will also manage the process of obtaining environmental and forest clearances.

Currently, TNPGCL's thermal plants, with a total capacity of 4,320 MW, require 22.34 million tonnes of coal annually. As new plants like Udangudi and Ennore SEZ are completed, coal demand is expected to rise by 30%.

In 2016, Tangedco, TNPGCL’s predecessor, had won the Chandrabila Coal Block in Odisha. However, mining plans were halted due to the proximity to a tiger corridor, leading to the cancellation of the project in 2023.

The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) is planning to establish a solar energy plant with technical assistance from Cochin International Airport (CIAL), recognised as the world’s first fully solar-powered airport. TDB officials stated that a meeting was held with S Suhas, Managing Director, CIAL, at Sannidhanam to discuss the initiative. TDB President P S Prasanth mentioned that the discussion was preliminary in nature. He further informed that CIAL is preparing the detailed project report (DPR) and providing technical guidance for the project. Prasanth also revealed that the TDB intends to fu..

Reliance Industries, India’s most valuable company, has returned to a growth trajectory after six months of challenges, as it reported better-than-expected earnings for the December quarter, according to brokerages. The oil-to-telecom-and-retail conglomerate achieved its highest-ever EBITDA of Rs 438 billion during October-December 2024, the third quarter of the FY25 fiscal, surpassing estimates due to strong performances across all segments. This growth was notably driven by the robust performance of its oil-to-chemical (O2C) segment and a recovery in consumer retail. "Reliance is back on..