Coal India output rises

Calcutta, March 2: Coal India's production has increased 9.2 per cent in the first eleven months of 2015-16. Production during the period was 477.31 million tonnes (mt) against a target of 491.27mt.

In February, the public sector miner produced 51.01mt with five of the eight subsidiaries achieving their actual production target for the month. However, only two subsidiaries achieved the offtake target as demand was subdued and thermal power plants had surplus coal.

The offtake during April-February was 483.14mt, a growth of 9.3 per cent, helped by a rise in coal loading onto railway rakes. Average coal loading during the period was 210.9 rakes a day against an average of 192.5 rakes per day a year ago.

The cumulative index of coal among eight core industries during April-January has increased 5.1 per cent over the year-ago period. Besides coal, crude, natural gas, refinery products, fertiliser, steel, cement and electricity are the other constituents of the index.

Higher domestic production has to some extent lowered the import of coal. However, industry sources hope the demand-supply gap will be bridged in the near term.

Coal India Ltd