State-run miner Coal India Ltd (CIL) continued its robust performance in May 2024. CIL’s production rose by 7.5% y-o-y to 64.40 million tonnes (mnt) in May as against 59.90 mnt in May 2023.
Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL) achieved the highest coal output at 18 mnt in May 2024, up by around 11.3% as compared to 16.10 mnt in May 2023, followed by SECL at 13.80 mnt, largely stable y-o-y. Central Coalfields Limited (CCL) produced 6.70 mnt in May, up nearly 5.4% as against 6.30 mnt in May 2023.
Dispatches up over 7% in May’24
During the month, coal dispatches posted a rise of 7.2% y-o-y to 68.2 mnt in May as compared with 63.7 mnt in May 2023.
MCL’s coal dispatches stood at 17.80 mnt, up 4.5% compared to 17 mnt in May 2023, followed by SECL at 16.30 mnt, up by 7.5% as against 15.20 mnt in May 2023. The total coal dispatch at NCL was recorded at 12.30 mnt for May, an increase of nearly 4% as against 11.8 mnt a year ago.
BCGCL floats tender for coal gasification project in Odisha
Bharat Coal Gasification & Chemicals Limited (BCGCL), a joint venture company of CIL and BHEL, has floated a tender document for the selection of LSTK-2 (Lump Sum Turnkey) issued on 31 May to commence work on a portion of its coal to ammonium nitrate project in Odisha. The project involves setting up a syngas purification plant and an ammonia synthesis gas plant, which will purify the raw syngas produced from the coal gasifier and make it suitable for ammonia synthesis.
CIL and BHEL have entered into an agreement to establish India’s first commercial-scale coal to ammonium nitrate plant through the Surface Coal Gasification (SCG) technology route. This initiative aligns with the government’s goal of promoting clean energy sources and reducing India’s carbon footprint.
The pre-bid process is scheduled to begin on 28 June. The project consists of four packages. LSTK-1 will be executed by BHEL on a nomination basis, while the remaining three packages, LSTK-2, LSTK-3, and LSTK-4, will be executed through tendering. The LSTK-1 package includes Coal Gasification, an Air Separation Unit (ASU), an Ash Handling Plan (AHP), a Steam Generation Plan (SGP), a Coal Handling Plant (CHP), and Cooling Towers for Coal Gasification.