New Delhi: Coal production from captive coal blocks allocated to firms like SAIL, Sasan Power and Jindal Steel and Power Ltd is expected to reach 53 million tonnes (MT) in the current fiscal.
"Based on the review of the status of producing coal blocks which have not yet attained PRC (peak rated capacity) and the coal blocks which were likely to commence production in 2014-15 as well as the information/assurance given by the coal block allocatees for achieving production during 2014-15 is 52.925 MT, said the minutes of a meeting held a fortnight back.
The meeting was held under the chairmanship of Additional Secretary, Coal to review the progress of production of the fuel from captive mines in the current fiscal.
"The purpose of the meeting was to ascertain the likely coal production for the captive coal blocks during the year 2014-15... They (coal block allocatees) were requested to bring any other issue hampering the development of coal block in achieving PRC to the notice of Ministry of Coal and make all out efforts on their part to achieve production as per the approved mine plan," it said.
Some of the 21 coal blocks which have come under production but not achieved peak rated capacity are Tasra coal block allocated to SAIL, Moher and Moher Amlori Extension mine alloted to Sasan Power and Barjore North coal block of Damodar Valley Corp (DVC), among others, it added.
Six coal blocks which are likely to start production (where mining lease has been executed) in the ongoing fiscal are NTPC's Pakri Barwadih mine, DVC's Khagra Joydev mine and Jaiprakash Associates' Mandla North mine, among others.
Of the total 328 coal blocks identified for allocation for captive purposes, the government has so far allocated 218 and deallocated 80 coal blocks.
The demand-supply gap of coal, which increased by 17.9 percent to 171 million tonnes (MT) in the last fiscal, is likely to touch 200 MT by 2016-17.
