The hard coke plant owners of Dhanbad have demanded for resumption of fuel supply agreement(FDA) with the hardcoke plants. Talking to media persons after the 87th annual general meeting of the Industries and Commerce Association (ICA) an association of over a hundred plant owners, its president BN Singh said, the grievances of these industries are not being addressed either by union or state government. It's the need of the hour to restore the old linkage system or continue the FSA with the hard coke manufacturing industry. If this is not done immediately, hard coke manufacturing units will vanish from the geo-map of Dhanbad district of Jharkhand State.
Singh at same time requested from the State government to frame a pro-industry policy so that the hardcoke as well as other allied industries may flourish in the State.
"Major grievance of the hardcoke industry is the non-availability of adequate quality and quantity of coking coal, which is the only raw material of this industry and BCCL is unable to fulfill the total requirement of coal to this industry", said Singh while replying to a query. Singh alleged that the notice to the Union Government including the Prime Minister had no effect on the Coal India Limited and Bharat Coking Coal Limited as the companies did not consider our request.
The hard coke plant units are purchasing imported coal through Haldia and Vishakhapatanam ports. The cost is between Rs.10,000/- to 12,000/- per M. T. besides transportation charges that are much higher than the locally produced coal.
Units are importing the coal due to inability to fulfill the total requirement of coal (total requirement of coal is 36,13,027 M.T. per annum a/c. hard coke manufacturing units) by the Coal Companies.
Only 10 to 20% of coal is being supplied by the Coal Companies.
Singh demanded new methods for assessing the grade of coal.
The supply may help reduce the coal import bill of the country, said Singh.
He said ,The coal company is determining the grade of coal only on ash %(percentage) . It's totally wrong. It should be determined on Coking Properties (CSN), Volatile Matter (V.M.), Fixed Carbon (F.C.), Analysis Sample Moisture (IM) abp% and Ash % (percentage), said Singh.
Rangdari is a major problem for all businesses including hardcoke units . ICA total control on the issue for a flourishing industry.