On Tuesday, Coal India arm NCL told the media that it is guaranteeing adequate fuel supply to meet the increasing energy demand of the country and reaffirmed its pledge for continuous fuel dispatch to its dependent coal users, involving thermal power facilities.
The assurance assumes importance as presently, the country's power facilities are facing coal shortages. The firm told the media that it is ensuring ample coal supply to match the surging energy demand of the country. Notwithstanding the difficult times of Covid-19 and heavy monsoon, NCL recorded a 15% YoY increase and supplied 61.51 million tonnes (mt) coal to date in the current fiscal, as against 53.44 mt of the corresponding time last year. In the first half of 2021-22, NCL has dispatched 113% of the agreed quantity of coal to its pit-head power facility. Additionally, 102% of the agreed quantity of coal has been provided to power plants, comprising upcountry thermal power plants (TPPs) in the corresponding period. Ramping up the supply, NCL also broke the record of 'highest ever dispatch' in a day in August and September, two times when the firm supplied its highest ever coal to the consumers (majority to power sector), 3.87 lakh tonnes on August 27, 2021, and 4 lakh tonnes on September 6, respectively. In the current month, NCL is supplying around 3.6 lakh tonnes every day to its coal buyers. NCL has also been committed with a 15% higher yearly coal dispatch aim of 126.5 mt in the ongoing fiscal than the actual coal dispatch of 108.66 mt of 2020-21. With matching the TPPs demand, NCL is also participating in developing the nation Atmanirbhar in the coal sector and has provided 1.06 mt till Q2 this year as import substitution. NCL has been continuously obtaining its yearly coal generation aim for the past six years since 2015-16 and matching the coal demand of the country. In FY22, NCL aimed at 119 mt and has generated 57.21 mt to date. NCL's coal production reached 115.04 mt in FY 2020-21. Image Source
