The thermal power units of state-run West Bengal Power Development Corporation (WBPDCL) may reach self-sufficiency in sourcing coal from its indigenous mines in 2023-24 and shed its dependence on Coal India.

In 2022-23, the total coal requirement of WBPDCL units is expected at around 21 million tonnes (mt) of which around 16mt is expected to be sourced from the state’s own mines while the remaining 5mt is expected to come from Coal India. In 2021-22, around 7mt was sourced from Coal India, while the power utility’s own mines contributed 11.38mt.

“The Coal India supply in 2019-20 was around 9.7mt, and it has come down to around 5mt in 2022-23. Hopefully, next year, we would be in a position to take all the required coal from our own captive mines,” said a government official.

The daily production from WBPDCL captive mines is around 40,000 tonnes.

State power department sources said that WBPDCL has already obtained stage 2 of forest clearance from the Union ministry of environment and forest for Pachhwara (North). Loading from Dumka railway siding has started for the mine.

The peak production capacity of the Gangaramchak& Gangaramchak-Bhaduliacoal mine has also been increased to 3 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) from 1mtpa. The letter of award for the selection of a mine developer and operator has also been issued for Tara (east &west) mines. The state utility has also completed the preparatory activities and exploratory drilling at the Deocha-Pachami coal block.