Kolkata: At the end of Covid 19-hit financial year, Coal India's(CIL) success, amid challenges in maintaining output and off-take, came in the form of curbing coal imports to the tune of 90 million tonne (MT). Beating the previous estimates, the PSU coal major booked an all-time high of 124 MT in its e-auctions. Overburden removal logged 17% growth easing the way for faster future production.
According to CIL officials, through a series of initiatives, CIL pumped additional quantities of coal into the system that prompted customers to opt for opting 90 MT of domestic coal in lieu of coal imported from abroad.
“In the absence of our import substitution measures through a host of concessions and benefits, the customers would have had no alternative than to source coal from imports. In that case, it was a productive and timely move,” said a senior executive of the company.
According to the Maharatna PSU, the company opened a new window exclusively for coal importers in October, 2020. CIL allowed its subsidiaries to sign MoUs with 17 power plants linked to them to substitute their imports with its own coal for blending.
Additional coal was allocated to the central and state power generation companies, under flexi-utilisation, enabling them avert coal imports.
Source:timesofindia.indiatimes.com