Nalco shut down a total of 193 out of 823 operating pots from total 960 pots and reduced its power production to 620 MW from 800 MW.
Nalco CMD Anshuman Das told, “We are now putting all our efforts to arrange required coal very soon to overcome the temporary crisis.” The PSU had to take the hard decision in view of acute shortage of coal to produce required power and low lME price (london Metal Exchange) of aluminium.
The coal crisis was triggered after Nalco's feeding coalmine Bharatapur at Talcher coalfield of Mahanadi Coalfield limited (MCl) was stopped by the central mines safety department following the death of a casual worker.
In order to immediately tide over the crisis and reduce the severe impact of higher losses in terms of costs, Executive Director PR Choudhury informed the decision of the management to employees to restrict the power generation of CPP to 600 MW out of total 1200 MW, streamlining the smelter operation to the available power after fulfilling the power demand of Damanjodi and no import of power.
Choudhury appealed all the employees to come together and strive hard to face the crisis in order to curtail the losses as well as to make sincere efforts even for small cost savings wherever possible.
Nalco authorities are in close touch with MCl authorities to overcome the crisis.
On the other hand, the MCl said Nalco got coal supply to the tune of 90 per cent of its Fuel Supply Agreement (FSA). “Nalco has been receiving about average 10,000 tonnes of coal every day in the last week. Even we have supplied 90 per cent of the coal last one month. We have told Nalco to lift required coal from our other mines at Talcher. We have got sufficient coal stocks.”
Nalco as per FSA requires 3.93 lakh tonnes of coal per month and in spite of the dedicated mine for Nalco, namely Bharatpur, being closed, MCl has put all efforts to ensure more than 90 per cent of the FSA quantity supplied to Nalco, Mehera told.