New Delhi: State-owned Coal India Ltd (CIL) aims to ensure power at a just price to the country amid the escalating West Asia crisis that endangers global shipping lanes and imported coal costs, a senior official of the company said.
CIL contributes to 80 per cent of total domestic coal production and 75 per cent of total coal-based generation. CIL contributes to 55 per cent of total power generation and meets 40 per cent of the primary commercial energy requirements of the country.
“As a low-cost coal producer, CIL aims to ensure power at a just price to the country,” the official said, adding that the country has adequate coal sufficiency to meet the anticipated spike in summer demand, with Coal India maintaining robust stockpiles at pitheads and power plants. CIL’s pitheads have an inventory of 122 million tonnes (MT) of coal, while domestic coal-based plants are stocked to the tune of 53 MT, officials said.
In-situ coal exposure at CIL’s mines stands at around 60 MT, ready for extraction and supply at short notice.CIL’s subsidiaries have also been directed to ramp up the frequency and quantum of coal dispatches under the single-window mode of agnostic auction mechanism, the official said.
A few days back, the government had said it was fully prepared to meet any unprecedented surge in coal demand.
The government had said that this year, coal production and supply have outpaced consumption, leading to record-high stocks at thermal power plants and coal mines.
Supplies to the non-regulated sector are up nearly 14 per cent over the previous year. Coal India has a target to produce 875 million tonnes of coal in 2025-26. The company is aiming to meet growing demand despite recent, slight monthly production dips in late 2025.