NLC India Limited, a Navratna firm under the Ministry of Coal, has started coal supply to NTPC power facility at Darlipali in Odisha from its Talabira plant in the eastern state, amid coal shortages across the country.

The development implies importance in the wake of several power plants facing coal shortages.

The Ministry of Coal has taken all efforts to expand coal supplies to the power sector and chose to divert and increase the supplies to the power sector from captive coal blocks. The ministry offered the supply of coal from Talabira II & III mines to NTPC for their Power plant.

In this connection, both the firms worked collectively to begin the coal supply from Talabira II & III OCP to NTPC (Darlipali & Lara Power Plants). With timely support and required coal delivery permissions from the Department of Mines, Government of Odisha, the coal delivery to the Darlipali Power station has started within 24 hours from the directives from the Ministry of Coal.

It is worth adding that Talabira II & III OCP has started production from the FY 2020-21 and provides coal to its End Use plant, NTPL, Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu. Additionally, to fulfil the coal supply requirement of the country, the excess coal quantity after meeting the requirement of end-use plant, selling the coal to open market via E-auction with due approval from the coal ministry.

Meanwhile, earlier this week, NLCIL touched 2 Million Tonne coal generation during its first full year of operation. NLCIL has taken measures to attain the aim of 6 MT per year from its original schedule of 4 MT, during the current year and considering the increasing demand for coal, NLCIL is taking all-out efforts to increase coal generation of Talabira Mine up to 10 MT for the present year and up to 20 MT from next year onwards.

The coal generated is being transported to one of the End Use Plants, NLC Tamilnadu Power Limited’s 2 x 500 MW at Tuticorin, a subsidiary of NLCIL. The total generated power is providing to the demand of the southern states, a significant share (over 40%) to Tamil Nadu.

Recent Amendment to Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act on Mineral Concession Rules by the Ministry of Coal has allowed the Mine for excess coal sale after fulfilling the coal demand of End Use Plant. Consequently, the approval from the Ministry of Coal has been asked to market the excess coal.

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