Coal supply to new power units hit railway hurdle

Coal supply being arranged by the Coal India Limited (CIL) from alternate sources to meet requirements of "critical" power plants is unlikely to be delivered because of the failure of CIL to persuade the Railways to help with evacuation by specially clearing lines and supply rakes.

Central Electricity Authority (CEA) has identified 24 critical power stations with coal stocks of about seven days and thus in the 'super critical' category with stocks of 4-days and less.

Coal Ministry sources said, National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) power stations at Farakka and Kahelgaon will be the first two power stations in the country to be hit because of its failure.

Railway authorities categorically said at a recent meeting with coal and power ministries that it was not accepting the CIL plea to place additional 6-10 rakes required to feed the plants which are due for capacity expansion.

CIL planned supplies from Hurra-C, Chupurvita and Rajmahal Extension to feed the NTPC plant expansion drive.

Railways castigated the CIL plan, pointing out there were no evacuation lines and lines had to be built to link the identified mines.

The biggest problem standing in way was land acquisition for new rail lines and environment clearance.

CIL was also facing internal project delays.

A railway official said, "We are eager, but transport logistics do not permit us to carry out the coal evacuation as requested by CIL. Let them find out other methods and not solely rely on us for feeding the expansion programme of Kahelgaon".

CIL officials said, "The expert triangular committee would be formed soon to monitor daily needs of critical power stations. As for feeding Kahelgaon and Farakka expansion, CIL is trying out alternatives, now that railways have declined to place in the required 6-10 rakes. We are confident of reaching a solution".

CIL recently placed a demand with railways to arrange for evacuation and supply from alternate and link mines.

The alternate mines identified by CIL included Ib Valley in Mahanadi Coalfields (MCL), Karanpura in Central Coalfields Limited (CCL), Korba-Raygadh in South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL) and the Asansol coal belt under the Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL).

A railway survey led to rejection of the CIL plea.

CIL was currently working out details for coal evacuation from new mines to new power units.

The railways would then decide which mines could be served.

CIL would then decide on the viability of mining projects.

According to estimates, 55 per cent of coal supplied to power plants used railways and the remaining 45 per cent used the merry-go-round (MGR) system to link pitheads to power stations using wagons placed by stations.

CIL preferred MGR system to feed new power units.