Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh lead coal capacity expansion: Global Energy Monitor
In 2023, India brought online 5.5 GW of new coal-fired power plant capacity, more than double the 2.7 GW of new capacity added in 2022.
Total coal production stood at 448 million tonnes in October this year which is 18 per cent higher than that of the corresponding period of 2021.
The growth of dry fuel production from Coal India Ltd (CIL) was also more than 17 per cent.
The Coal Ministry said in a statement that it is planning to build a 30 million tonnes stock at domestic coal-based plants by the end of this month.
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This would help in augmenting the stock of thermal power plants to up to 45 million tonnes by March 31, 2023, they added.
The Ministry further said that during the first seven months this year, there is a 9 % growth in average rakes per day availability which is helping to transport higher quantities of coal and building up stocks at power plants. Ministry of Power is also augmenting the transportation of coal through rail-cum-road mode.
CIL has communicated the quota for the RCR mode of lifting to all the power-generating companies for the next eight months. This will help power-generating companies to plan transportation logistics in advance.
Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Ministry of Power, Railways, and Coal are working together to promote the transportation of coal through sea routes.
So far transportation of coal from Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL) to Paradip by rail and thereafter to power plants on the eastern coast is being made through the rail-sea-rail route.
The government is promoting the transportation of coal from coal mines in the eastern parts of the country to power plants located on the western coast or northern parts of the country.
Accordingly, the capacity of coal transportation to Paradip is being augmented, the Ministry further said.
The Ministry of coal is closely monitoring issues related to the production, transportation, and quality of domestic dry fuel.
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