The Hindu Business Line : Eastern Coalfields, Bharat Coking post lower coal despatches

Between April and November this year, despatches of coal by rail from two major coal producing companies Eastern Coalfields Ltd (ECL) and Bharat Coking Coal (BCCL) left much to be desired, despite their achieving higher production during the period compared to the same period last year, according to railway sources.

ECL posted an increase of 2.69 per cent in production at 17.93 million tonnes (mt) during the period under review compared to 17.46 mt and BCCL a rise of five per cent at 14.17 mt (13.45 mt).

However, during the same period, coal despatch by rail from ECL mines registered 5.5 per cent decline at the average daily loading of 1,841 wagons (in terms of four-wheelers) compared to 1,949 wagons in the same period of last year. The despatches from BCCL mines in the same period, however, showed an increase of 3.44 per cent at the average daily loading of 2,284 wagons (2,208 wagons). But, as the sources observe, the increase was lower than the production growth.

Reasons cited

Inquiries reveal that the drop in despatches from ECL mines should be attributed to the unique situation at Rajamahal mines. The Rajamahal mines posted a significant increase in production at 6.95 mt (5.93 mt), i.e. by more than one mt, during the period. However, there being no direct rail link of Eastern Railway to evacuate the production, ECL is almost entirely dependent on National Thermal Power Corporation for evacuation. Since NTPC takes the delivery of coal only at will, i.e. as and when it needs, there is a substantial pithead stock at Rajmahal. The stock, it is learnt, at one point went up to as high as 3.2 mt.

The situation at BCCL is of course a little different. Coal despatches from five of the BCCL mines, namely, Kesargarh siding, BCB 4 and 5, NCOP, South Govindpur and Kaustaur, cannot be undertaken for a variety of reasons.

In some mines it is critical law and order problem and in some others, it is either lack of siding or absence of crusher or closure of mines.

As a result these mines together are believed to be holding a pithead stock of about one mt.