India: CIL’s coal production increases 8% y-o-y, dispatches up 6% in Apr-Jun’24

• CIL’s coal dispatches up 5.5% in Q1FY’25
• Dispatches to power sector up 4% y-o-y

State-run miner Coal India Ltd (CIL) continued its robust performance in coal production in Q1FY’25, with total output in April-June recording a nearly 8% increase to 189.3 mnt compared with 175.5 mnt in April-June’23.

Surpassing the target of 189.2 mnt,CIL’s all seven subsidiaries experienced positive growth, with five of them exceeding their targets.

Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL) achieved the highest coal output at 51.8 mnt in Q1FY’25, up by around 12.5% compared to 46.1 mnt in Q1FY’24, followed by SECL at 42 mnt, largely stable y-o-y. Eastern Coalfields Limited (ECL) produced 11.7 mnt in Q1, up nearly 18.9% as against 9.8 mnt in the year-ago period.

CIL’s production rose by 9% y-o-y to 63.1 million tonnes (mnt) in June as against 58 mnt in June 2023.

CIL’s dispatches up 6% in Q1FY’25

CIL coal dispatches amid strong production growth and increased coal loading rose nearly 6% rise to 197 mnt compared with 186.8 mnt in the same period of last year.

MCL’s coal dispatches stood at 51.8 mnt in Q1, up by 6.1% compared to 48.8 mnt in Q1FY’24, followed by SECL at 47.4 mnt, up by 7% y-o-y as against 44.3 mnt in Q1 of last fiscal. Total coal dispatches of NCL were recorded at 35 mnt for the period.

During June’24, coal dispatches posted a rise of 5.4% y-o-y to 64.1 mnt compared with 60.8 mnt in June 2023.

Amid rising power demand in the country, CIL’s supplies to coal-fired plants increased by 4% to 160 mnt during Q1, showing a yearly growth of 6 mnt. In the same period of FY’24, CIL’s dispatches to thermal power plants were 154 mnt.

The PSU’s supplies to the non-power sector recorded a 16% growth at 38.4 mnt during the referenced period, compared to 33 mnt in April-June 2023.

On average, CIL loaded 325.7 rakes per day for the power sector in the first three months of the current financial year. This marked an increase of 19 rakes per day compared to 306.7 rakes loaded in Q1FY’24, reflecting a 6% growth. This loading includes coal from CIL’s own sidings, private washeries, and goods sheds. Each rake carries approximately 4,000 t of coal.