>>Thermal Coal consumption in India is set to rise in the coming months with the summer season setting in—the capacity utilization of the coal-based power plants in the country will be increased to meet the enhanced power demand to arise from usage of air-conditioners and fans.
The beginning of the summer season is not the sole factor for the capacity utilization of the power plants to go up, the projected rise in industrial activity in the upcoming months is also expected to drag the capacity utilization of power plants, including coal-fired plants, to higher levels.
Looking into the recent past, there was a 4.37% growth in coal-fired power generation in the country during the Apr-Feb’18 period; however, the growth was lower than the growth of 5.47% exhibited during the corresponding period of the previous fiscal.
>>Extending its strategy beyond observing 16Apr’18 as a protest day against the central government’s move of actuating commercial coal mining in India, the Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC) has now decided to approach the Supreme Court of India against the implementation of commercial coal mining in the country. According to INTUC, one of the largest trade unions in the country, entry of private players in the coal mining space in the country will erode away jobs and salaries apart from reducing the market share for the state-run, Coal India Limited, which commands more than 80% of the market share in the country.
The Cabinet Committee of Economic Affairs (CCEA), last month, had approved the introduction of commercial coal mining in India. CCEA also had crafted out the modalities to be followed in the commercial coal mining process.
In essence, commercial coal mining involves opening up the coal mining space to private players, which will be able to mine and sale the produce without any restriction on the end-use. On a broader view, the commercial coal mining process is expected to be a game changer for the Indian coal industry as it is believed to bring in more efficiency for the sector.
>>The Goa State Pollution Control Board has scheduled a board meeting on 27Mar’18 to discuss over the issue of South West Port Limited seeking fresh consent for resuming coal operations at the Mormugao port in Goa.
The board had earlier cancelled its permission as the company was found to be handling coal at the port in excess of the permitted limits. Subsequently, the company submitted a fresh petition seeking the board’s permission for resuming coal handling through the port.
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