The total coal production in the country stands at 448 million tonnes (MT) for the month of October 2022 which is 18% higher than the production of the corresponding period of last year. The growth of coal production from Coal India Ltd (CIL) is also more than 17%.

The ministry of coal said in a release Thursday that it is planning to build stock at domestic coal-based plants to the tune of 30 million tonnes by the end of November. It has plans to keep building the stock so that by the end of March 2023, the thermal power plants (TPP) stock go up to 45 MT.  It is further planned to enhance coal stock at the pithead.

During the first seven months this year, there has been a 9% growth in average rakes per day availability which is helping to transport higher quantity of coal and building up stocks at power plants. The ministry of power is also augmenting transportation of coal through rail-cum-road mode. CIL has communicated quota for the RCR mode of lifting to all the power generating companies for next eight months. This will help power generating companies to plan transportation logistics in advance.  

The ministries of ports, shipping and waterways, of power, railways and coal are working together to promote transportation of coal through sea route. So far, transportation of coal from MCL to Paradip by rail and thereafter to power plants on Eastern Coast is being made through rail-sea-rail route.

The government is promoting transportation of coal from coal mines in eastern parts of the country to power plants located on the western coast or northern parts of the country. Accordingly, capacity of coal transportation to Paradip is being augmented. It is planned to start movement of coal for western coast plants through RSR by early next year. The government is planning to promote transportation of coal through all three possible modes.

The coal ministry is closely monitoring issues related to production, transportation and quality of domestic coal.