CIL steps ups efforts to meet power plants' coal demand as supply dwindles

Coal stocks at power plants across the country have declined to a point where they can meet the requirement for an average of only six days

In order to address the power sector's complaints of coal shortage, state-owned behemoth Coal India is stepping up its efforts to meet the demand.

"Coal India Limited posted robust 10 per cent growth in coal production, 21 per cent in off-take to power sector, and 19 per cent in rake loading during the month of September," said the company in an emailed response addressing concerns on coal supply.

It also said that the supply to power plants was 35 million tonnes (MT) in the month against 29.1 MT in September 2016. During September 2017, the rake loading per day for