As a “temporary arrangement” to meet the supply-shortfall to the power sector, Coal India Ltd will divert 4 million tonnes (mt) of monthly quota for e-auction to generation utilities in October, according to CIL Chairman, Mr N. C. Jha. The coal major, however, will step up its offerings through e-auction in the following months to reach the targeted annual sales of around 50 mt in the open market.
E-auction fetches for CIL nearly 80 per cent over and above the notified price at which coal is offered to the power sector.
The company has already increased daily supplies to the power sector by nearly 1.6 lakh tonne. “From a total 182 rakes (including MGR) of 3,500 tonne each as on October 5, supplies have increased to 229 rakes a day; to be stepped up further to 244 rakes next week,” Mr Jha said.
Steps are also taken to reach the targeted 1.25 million tonne of production a day from the existing 1.1 mt. Supplies are on from Orissa, Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra to fuel the power plans in Andhra Pradesh.