Coal India has said it has adequate stocks to supply to non-power consumers. The non-power players have complained of shortages inspite of improving production.

The public sector miner said it is supplying around 3.4 lakh tonnes daily to the non-power sector, which is the average supply to this segment.

With more than 37 million tonnes at its pitheads, Coal India has adequate stock and will look to increase supply to this sector that comprises aluminium, cement, paper and textiles among others.

Despatch to the non-power players in the first 10 months of the fiscal till January is up 8.2 per cent to 101.7mt against 94mt two years ago before the pandemic struck. But it is less than the corresponding months of 2020-21 — the first year of the pandemic — when the segment received 105mt.

Coal India said coal imported by the non-power consumers is estimated at around 170mt in any given financial year for blending with domestic coal. But in 2021-22, spiralling international prices led to lower imports that caused the shortage.

“CIL has sufficient buffer stock to increase supply to the non-power sector. Coal availability is not a problem,” said a senior executive of the company.

Coal India’s observations come at a time eight industry associations have written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the prolonged supply crunch via rail.

Mine auctions

The government said it auctioned 10 ooal mines last week, in the third round of auctions. The government has auctioned 42 mines overall to commercial players, with capacity of 86 million tonnes.

The 10 blocks are projected to generate an annual revenue of Rs 2,858.20 crore, the ministry said. On the first day of the auction, five blocks were sold. Dalmia Cement Bharat Ltd had emerged as the highest bidder for two coal blocks in Jharkhand.

While Mahanadi Mines and Minerals emerged as the highest bidder for a coal block in Odisha, Yazdani Steel And Power was the highest bidder for another coal mine in the eastern state.

Assam Mineral Development Corp Ltd was the highest bidder for a mine in Assam.

On the second and the third days of the auction, Jindal Steel and Power bagged Utkal-C coal mine in Odisha while Hindalco Industries made the highest bid for Meenakshi mine in the eastern state.

BS Ispat Ltd emerged as the highest bidder for Majra mine in Maharashtra, and Assam Mineral Development Corporation bagged Garampani coal block in Assam.

Platinum Alloys Pvt Ltd bagged Namchik Namphuk mine in Arunachal Pradesh.