Coal supplies to the power sector from the Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL) were up by 9% to 75.41 million tonnes at the end of the third quarter of current financial year as against 69.29 MT during same period last fiscal.
The MCL has supplied a record 104.6 MT to the consumers in the first three quarters of the current fiscal, up by 3.5% against 101.1 MT dispatched during same period in 2017-18.
Despite being challenged by several bandhs and other obstructions in its mining operations, the MCL has been successful to increase coal supplies to the consumers, particularly the power generators. An active support from railways and proper coordination between the two organisations have been the key factors in ensuring the increase in supply of coal to consumers, said an MCL release.
The MCL already crossed 99-MT coal production on Wednesday. However, due to bandhs in coalfields areas and regular obstructions by locals in the mining operations, the company is struggling to increase coal production to achieve the targeted figures.
The company is geared up for a “peak production” period of the remaining three months of current fiscal. If the business operations remain undisturbed, the MCL would record new milestones in its history of production and supply at the end of this financial year.