With the Manoharpur Coalmines becoming operational, the Odisha Power Generation Corporation (OPGC) will start receiving coal from November onwards.
State Energy Secretary Bishnupada Sethi briefed Union Secretary Coal Anil Kumar Jain in this regard in a review meeting taken up by Ministry of Coal for ensuring raw material for the power plants in New Delhi on October 17.
Sethi briefed in details about the arrangements for supply of coal to OPGC plant in Odisha.
The Secretary Energy, who is also Chairman of Odisha Coal and Power Limited (OCPL), which controls Manoharpur Coal Block, apprised the current status on the coal mine development and its operations.
It was also informed that that coal despatch to OPGC power plant through Kanika sidings is planned from November 2019 once the co-user agreement is signed with the MCL and the permission thereof is accorded by the Indian Railways.
Jain was happy to learn about the positive developments and asked the State authorities to coordinate with the Indian Railways for smooth evacuation of coal.
Manoharpur and Dip-Side Manoharpur Coal mines, located in the district of Sundargarh, have been allotted to Odisha Coal and Power Limited (OCPL), a Government Company of the State of Odisha in August, 2015.
These coal mines have been allotted exclusively for the end use plants of OPGC, located at Banharpalli in the district of Jharsuguda.
All the permits and clearances are available and the mine operations have been commenced from November 1, 2018.
However, the coal production could not be started due to evacuation constraints.
The coal productions from the mine have now been started from October 10, subsequent to the last review meeting of Secretary, Coal, in September.
In the review meeting, it was decided to transport coal from Manoharpur Coal Mine to OPGC power plants through Kanika siding.
In the meantime, the Secretary, Coal, Jain on October 17 reviewed the status and constraints of 11 coal blocks which have already received the Mine Opening Permission (MOP) from the Coal Controller Organisation under Ministry of Coal(MoC).
While OPGC is facing problem in getting coal from MCL, with supply from its own captive mines, raw material problem will be sorted out, said CEO, OCPL Kshirod Brahma.
Due to short supply from MCL, the State owned OPGC was forced to go slow in power generation and its Unit-2 faced forced shutdown.
Looking at the grim scenario, the State Government intervened in the matter and due to effective intervention of State police, situation has improved and the MCL authorities have promised to supply adequate quantity of coal to the OPGC
