Indian Railways increased the transportation of coal through railways by a record 111 million tonnes for the financial year FY22. Railways loaded coal at an all-time high of 653 million tonnes in FY22 as compared to 542 million tonnes in the previous year – registering a growth of 20.4%.
Notably, in the second half of FY22, the loading of Coal The power sector had grown by 32% in just 2 quarters.
So far in April 2022, the Indian Railways has taken several steps to prioritize loading of coal to the power sector, leading to a more than 10% increase in coal supply within a week.
According to the statement of the Ministry of Railways, these measures are:
1. Priority has been given to the movement of coal trains and each train is being closely monitored during the entire cycle from loading to movement and finally to unloading.
2. Through this prioritization and monitoring, the transit time of coal trains for long-distance power is reduced by 12-36% for critical power plants.
3. Indian Railways has given priority to coal movement even in long distance power stations, which is reflected in the fact that the average lead of coal trains in the last 5 days has increased by 7% as compared to the first to first average lead. has increased. 10 April.
4. Despite this increase in the average lead of coal trains, the time taken between two consecutive loading of the same rake for these stocks has come down by 10%.
5. With these operational innovations Indian Railways has increased the supply of coal trains to power stations as well as loaded more coal rakes on a continuous basis.
According to the Ministry, Indian Railways is fully prepared and mobilized all resources to ensure that there is continuous high level of coal supply to the power houses and is committed to lift all domestic coal which is in siding/good shed. are brought. Coal companies and imported coal brought to the ports by power generating companies.
However, in another development today, a Reuters report said state-owned National Aluminum Company Limited (Nalco) is facing a shortfall in coal supplies, as the supply has been diverted to priority power generation. and there is a shortage of trains to fuel NALCO’s power plants. ,
The report said supplies by state-run Coal India under a long-term supply deal fell 17% short of the quantity contracted in FY22 for Nalco, while under another related deal the shortfall was over 75%.
A senior official told Reuters that daily supplies to Nalco were falling by at least 5,000 tonnes due to train shortages, adding that the company had an inventory of coal that would last only four days.