CIL: Coal Dispatch to Power Plants Increase 7% Y-o-Y in FY18

In a unique synergy with Indian Railways, Coal India Ltd (CIL) has recorded its all time high coal supply to the power plants during FY18 (Apr’17-Mar’18). The coal company had dispatched 454.3 MnT to the power stations in FY18, representing a growth of 7% Y-o-Y against 425.4 MnT in FY17.

Coal dispatch to the power sector stood 42.9 MnT in Mar’18, rising 7% Y-o-Y from 40.1 MnT in Mar’17, the data provided by Coal Ministry showed.

CIL’s coal supply to the power plants had come under scrutiny, when the coal demand had increased amid rise in thermal power generation in Aug’17. CIL was not in a position, to deliver the requisite amount of coal, as the company had already lowered its monthly production to liquidate the excess of coal at its pit-head mines.

Consequently, coal stock at the power plants had significantly fallen to 8 MnT in Sep’17, with many plants having critical stock of less than 7 days.

Since then, CIL had progressively increased its monthly production and dispatch, in order to revive the coal stock position at the power plants.

The coal company had also adopted strategic approach to augment the coal supplies. The power plants located within a distance of 50 Km distance from the nearby coal mines, were offered coal through road mode.

While, the company in collaboration with Indian railways, had also augmented rakes availability for coal supplies to the power plants. As per the data provided by PIB, coal supplies to power plants had increased from the level of 219 rakes/day in Sep’17 to 270.6 rakes/day in Mar’18, while recording 344.5 rakes loading in a single day on 28th and 31st Mar’18.

As a result of the combined effort from CIL and Indian Railways, coal stock available at the power plants has improved to 16.711 MnT, as on 18 Apr’18, sufficient for 11 days of power generation.

SCCL Coal Dispatch to Power Plant:
Singareni Collieries Company Ltd (SCCL), following in the footsteps of CIL, had also recorded growth in yearly coal dispatch to the power plants. SCCL’s coal dispatch to power sector stood 53.47 MnT in FY18, up 4% Y-o-Y from 51.5 MnT in FY17.