There is no shortage of coal in India, says Coal Secretary Amrit Lal Meena
The Coal Secretary's statement provides clarity on the current state of coal production and distribution in India. While there may be logistical challenges affecting some consumers, the overall coal supply situation appears stable. The government's efforts to boost coal production and distribution ensure that vital sectors of the economy continue to receive the necessary coal resources, stated Coal Secretary Amrit Lal Meena.
Coal production in India, according to the government, has seen a commendable growth of more than 10 percent this year, following a substantial 14 percent increase in the previous year. This robust performance from the coal industry indicates that the producers are meeting their targets effectively. However logistical issues are causing delays in reaching coal to certain consumers, says Amrit Lal Meena, Coal Secretary of India.
The Coal Secretary, in a statement to CNBC-TV18, acknowledged that while coal availability is not a concern, logistical issues are leading to delayed supply to some consumers. He explained that the transportation of coal from production areas to various parts of the country can be challenging, especially for consumers situated in remote locations. These logistic constraints have led to delays in coal delivery for certain consumers, he stated.
Meena's remarks come at a crucial time when concerns about coal shortages have been making headlines. However, his insights provide a more nuanced understanding of the situation and its underlying causes.
He emphasised that both Coal India and private sector players have been diligently following their production plans.
Quashing the rumours of a coal shortage in India, Meena assured that coal supply is proceeding according to plan.
"Coal is being supplied as per the plan. We have envisaged in the beginning of the year that the production will show a growth of more than 10 percent. Last year it has grown by 14 percent. So Coal India and private sector coal mines are contributing as per their plan and there is no shortage as far as the plant supply is concerned," he said.
In order to mitigate the logistical challenges, Meena revealed that coal for the power sector is being imported by coal-based power plants located in coastal areas. Approximately 2 million tonne of coal are imported each month by these power plants, especially those situated near ports.
Amrit Lal Meena concluded by saying that the government is committed to ensure coal availability for all sectors of the economy and this year and the supplies from the public sector company Coal India to the non-regulated sector have been increased by a substantial 35 percent.
For more details, watch accompanying video
(Edited by : C H Unnikrishnan)
First Published: Sept 27, 2023 4:19 PM IST
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