AHMEDABAD: Over 1,000 textile, chemical and engineering units in Ahmedabad and Surat are facing lignite shortage as, perhaps for the first time, dispatch from all six Gujarat Mineral Development Corporation (GMDCThe lignite mines have been closed due to the recent heavy rains.
GMDC has orders of 2.50 lakh tonnes this fortnight, dispatch from its mines has been stopped for the last four days. GMDC is also unable to utilize the stored stock as the movement of vehicles has been hampered. They believe that if the rains stop, the situation will return to normal in two-three days.
GMDC supplies lignite to industrial units for use as fuel. Textile processing units use GMDC lignite in large quantities. GMDC MD Rupwant Singh told TOI, “We see a decrease in mining every monsoon but this year we have seen very low levels of mining and due to these heavy rains, dispatch has stopped for the first time in our history. We are 8 -10 million tonnes per annum. For the current fortnight, we have orders for around 2.50 lakh tonnes, but are unable to supply the same and will soon take a call on refunds for these orders.”
He said that even transportation to and from storage facilities has been disrupted. He said that if the rains stop, in three days the situation would return to normal in all the mines: Bhavnagar, Mata Na Madh, Pandharo, Rajpardi, Tadkeshwar and Umarsar.
Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) President Pathik Patwari said, “Textile and dye units use GMDC lignite in large quantities and are badly affected due to supply shutdown. 600 in Narol, Vatva, Odhav and Naroda More than one units are facing difficulties. Smaller units also do not have storage facility, hence their operations have suffered.”
An office-bearer of the Ahmedabad Textile Processors Association said, “We were already facing difficulties due to low demand and the lignite supply from GMDC forced us to buy imported coal. Ensuring adequate storage to GMDC so that they can continue to supply. In such situations.”
Jitu Vakharia, President, South Gujarat Textile Processors Association, said, “It is a temporary shortage and it is affecting the units. Lignite loses its calorific value on contact with water, hence for most of the units, such heavy rains Storage is not possible during the period. Most of the units use both imported coal and lignite. This has affected more than 500 large units in Surat region.”
GMDC has orders of 2.50 lakh tonnes this fortnight, dispatch from its mines has been stopped for the last four days. GMDC is also unable to utilize the stored stock as the movement of vehicles has been hampered. They believe that if the rains stop, the situation will return to normal in two-three days.
GMDC supplies lignite to industrial units for use as fuel. Textile processing units use GMDC lignite in large quantities. GMDC MD Rupwant Singh told TOI, “We see a decrease in mining every monsoon but this year we have seen very low levels of mining and due to these heavy rains, dispatch has stopped for the first time in our history. We are 8 -10 million tonnes per annum. For the current fortnight, we have orders for around 2.50 lakh tonnes, but are unable to supply the same and will soon take a call on refunds for these orders.”
He said that even transportation to and from storage facilities has been disrupted. He said that if the rains stop, in three days the situation would return to normal in all the mines: Bhavnagar, Mata Na Madh, Pandharo, Rajpardi, Tadkeshwar and Umarsar.
Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) President Pathik Patwari said, “Textile and dye units use GMDC lignite in large quantities and are badly affected due to supply shutdown. 600 in Narol, Vatva, Odhav and Naroda More than one units are facing difficulties. Smaller units also do not have storage facility, hence their operations have suffered.”
An office-bearer of the Ahmedabad Textile Processors Association said, “We were already facing difficulties due to low demand and the lignite supply from GMDC forced us to buy imported coal. Ensuring adequate storage to GMDC so that they can continue to supply. In such situations.”
Jitu Vakharia, President, South Gujarat Textile Processors Association, said, “It is a temporary shortage and it is affecting the units. Lignite loses its calorific value on contact with water, hence for most of the units, such heavy rains Storage is not possible during the period. Most of the units use both imported coal and lignite. This has affected more than 500 large units in Surat region.”