Coal supply to power sector rises 27% to 59.73 MT in October

New Delhi: Coal dispatch to the power sector has increased by 27.13 per cent to 59.73 million tonnes (MT) in October, owing to a spurt in power demand amid unprecedented rise in import prices.

The country's several thermal power plants were facing a crisis in the wake of low coal stock positions at their end. Coal supply to the power sector was 46.98 MT in October last year, according to government data. However, the supply of coal to the sponge iron sector last month declined by 29.2 per cent to 0.46 MT, over 0.65 MT in the corresponding month a year ago. The fuel dispatch to the cement sector dropped to 0.47 MT in October, over 0.68 MT in the year-ago period.

In other sectors also, barring steel and cement, coal supply also declined to 4.19 MT last month, from over 6.71 MT in the year-ago period. Recently, union minister for coal Pralhad Joshi had asked Coal India Ltd (CIL) and its subsidiaries to make all out efforts to ensure that at least 18 days of coal stock with thermal power plants by the end of November.