Odisha-based Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd (MCL), a subsidiary of Coal India, supplied close to 75.41 million tonnes (mt) of coal to power sector during the third quarter of this fiscal, as compared with 69.29 mt in the same period last year — registering a growth of around nine per cent.

MCL supplied around 104.6 mt to its consumers in the first three quarters of current fiscal, almost 3.5 per cent higher as compared to 101.1 mt dispatched during same period in FY18.

“Despite being challenged by several bandhs and other obstructions in its coal mining operations, MCL has been successful to increase coal supplies to the consumers, particularly the power generators,” said a press statement issued by the company.

The increase in supply of coal to consumers from MCL mines has been possible due to support from railways. As a result of operational synergy with railways, MCL dispatched 18,076 rakes of coal at the end of Q3 of current fiscal, up by 4.4 per cent against 17,311 rakes during the same period last year.

MCL, which has produced over 99 mt of coal so far during this fiscal, is struggling to increase the production to achieve the targeted figures. This is mainly on account of bandhs in coalfields areas and regular obstructions by locals in the mining operations, the release said.

The company is, however, hopeful of achieving its target in the remaining three months of this fiscal of its operations remain ‘undisturbed’.

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