Coal and Power Minister Piyush Goyal has set an ambitious target of achieving coal production of nearly 1,000 million tonnes in the next four years for Coal India ltd (CIl).
"Coal production in the last four years has hardly been growing by 1 per cent to1.5 per cent. For the current fiscal as well as FY16 it should go up by 6 per cent owing to what all roadblocks we have been able to clear in the last few months. I have an ambitious target of nearly 1,000 million tonnes in the next four years for CIl," Goyal told reporters on the sidelines of a SAARC energy ministers' meeting.
He expressed hope that together with CIl, the Government can increase coal production to nearly a billion tonnes in the next four years with the help of new technologies as well as by opening up new mines.
On asked about the fuel shortage, Goyal said, "I see no reason for power plants to suffer the kind of shortage they are doing now for very long. I am confident that once the appropriate measures are taken post the SC judgement and our efforts to increase Coal India production are in place."
According to recent data by the Central Electricity Authority, total fuel stocks at 103 coal-based stations have come down to around 73 lakh tonnes.