Coal crunch roils captive power plants after MCL's output declines steeply

Mahanadi Coalfield's output plummeted 33 per cent in September, engendering huge shortage for CPP-based industries

Captive Power Plants (CPPs) in Odisha are in the throes of a severe coal crunch as production from the second largest subsidiary of Coal India Ltd (CIL),  Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd (MCL), has declined steeply for the months of September and October.

MCL's coal output plummeted 33 per cent in September, engendering huge shortage for CPP-based industries and other power plants in Odisha. CIL's output from all its subsidiaries tumbled 23 per cent in September and 21 per cent in October when compared with the corresponding months of 2018. Between April and October of this financial year, CIL's total coal production