India's coal minister Pralhad Joshi said on June 6 that the country will not face any coal shortage this year, even during the monsoon season.
Addressing a conference on underground coal mining, Minister Joshi assured the nation that the government is fully prepared to meet the demand for coal this year.
"I assure the country on behalf of Coal India and the Coal Ministry that there will not be any shortage of coal even in the monsoon this time," he stated. Emphasizing the government's responsibility, he expressed confidence in meeting the entire demand.
On the sidelines of the event, Minister Joshi highlighted the current coal stockpiles. Around 35 million tonnes of coal is available at thermal power plants, while another 65 million tonnes is stored at the pit heads of both Coal India and private miners. An additional 10-12 million tonnes is in various stages of transportation.
Regarding the transportation of coal, Joshi mentioned close coordination between the Ministry and the railways to ensure smooth movement of the dry fuel from the pit heads to designated locations.
During the event, Joshi also unveiled Coal India's 'UG Vision Plan,' which outlines the roadmap for achieving a production target of 100 million tonnes from underground mines by the fiscal year 2028.
Currently, Coal India produces approximately 28 million tonnes of coal from underground mines, with its subsidiary, South Eastern Coalfields Ltd. (SECL), contributing 11.5 million tonnes from 45 underground mines, according to SECL official Sanish Chandra.
(Writing by Alex Guo Editing by Harry Huo)
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