Coal India Limited (CIL) posted positive growths in coal off-take to power sector (9.2%), overall coal supplies (8.1%), rake loading (6.8%) and production (1.8%) for the eight months of the current fiscal ending November 2017, maintaining the upbeat trend set into motion since August this year.
On the back of higher rake loading, CIL’s coal supplies to Power Utilities of the country posted a healthy 9.2% growth at 290.59 MTs during April-November 2017 continuing the upward spiral. This translates to a robust 24.59 MTs increase in absolute terms compared to 266 MTs during April-November 2016. For the month of November 2017, the growth in coal supplies to thermal power stations of the country was up by around 9% at 40.92 MTs against 37.56 MTs supplied during November 2016.
The increased supplies saw the coal stocks at power stations going up by over 2 MTs to around 10 MTs at the end of November 2017 compared to closing stock of 7.9 MTs, October 2017. CIL is gearing up to step up the supplies even further to pull the power stations out of the criticality situation. Coal supplies to non-power sector is gradually increasing with stabilization of supplies to Power Houses.
CIL registered 8.1% growth in overall coal supplies for the period April-November 2017 maintaining the steady flow of the dry fuel to its customers with a staggering 27.69 Million Tonne (MT) increase in absolute terms compared to same period last year. CIL’s overall supplies were close to 368 MTs progressive upto November 2017, against 340.31 MTs during same period last year. Coal supply for the month of November 2017 as well witnessed positive trend with a growth of 5.4% as the Maharatna coal mining company supplied 50.68 MTs to its consumers against 48.10 MTs on a month on month comparison the increase in absolute terms being 2.58 MTs.
Average rake loading per day to the power sector recorded a growth of 6.8% during the eight-month period of FY 2018 as a result of concerted efforts between Indian Railways and CIL. Coal India as a whole loaded 191.7 rakes per day to coal based generating units of the country during April-November 2017 compared to 179.5 rakes same period last year. The increase in absolute terms is 12.2 rakes per day. November 2017 witnessed invigorated loading by CIL with the average loading for the month raising to 217.3 rakes compared to 199.7 rakes, same month last year with a strong growth of 8.8%.
Rake loading per day to the entire consumer base of CIL grew by 4.1% for the eight-month period of the fiscal ending November 2017, averaging 218.3 rakes during the period against 209.8 rakes on a year-on-year comparison. Overall rake loading peaked to 261 rakes on 29 November with month’s average settling down at 241.1 rakes evincing a growth of 2.5% compared to 235.2 rakes during November 2016.
Coal production during April-November 2017 at 329.30 MTs evinced a growth of 1.8% compared to 323.53 MTs produced same period last year. Coal production grew by 2.6% in the month of November 2017 with CIL producing 51.29 MTs compared to 50 MTs in November 2016.