In a major achievement, the synergetic efforts of Coal India Ltd (CIL) and Railways, with close monitoring by the Ministries of Coal, Railways and Power, have resulted in unprecedented growth in coal offtake and improved despatch of coal for the power sector in particular. Effectively strengthening coal transportation and production, CIL loaded 250 rakes through the Indian Railways system on November 14, 2017, an all-time high achievement for the month of November. The aim was to ensure smooth coal supply. Of the 250 rakes, 223 were exclusively loaded for thermal power stations across the country.
Achieving a loading of 250 rakes a day in November has set a new record. This happened despite the continuing sporadic rains in some of the coalfields. Normally, loading at such levels is attained from late December when the onset of favourable environment helps in ramping up coal production.
CIL and Railways are now jointly working on a strategy to enhance the loading target to 266 coal rakes per day, which will further help both the power and non-power sector in meeting their coal demand.
The growth in coal despatch to the power sector in August, September and October of the current fiscal has been 20 per cent, 21 per cent and 18 per cent, respectively, as compared to the same period in the previous fiscal year. This has helped the coal-based power plants in meeting the spurt in demand of the festive and paddy seasons despite the drop in generation from hydro, nuclear and imported coal-based plants.
CIL is poised to contribute a load of 300 rakes through the Railways, which includes about 35 rakes for coal beneficiation and coal lifted through road for loading from goods shed sidings of the Railways.[/vc_column_text]
