Goyal for ensuring adequate coal supplies to power plants

Jharsuguda: Union Coal Minister Piyush Goyal on Monday inspected coal mining and dispatch operations at Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL) and emphasised on ensuring the full supply of dry fuel to power consumers.

Immediately after his arrival at Veer Surendra Sai Airport, Jharsuguda, Goyal left for inspection of Samleshwari Open Cast Project in Ib Valley Coalfields where the concerned officers briefed the Minister on coal mining and supply operations.

Taking a note of mine’s low performance following the delay in shifting of Y-curve siding, the Minister directed both MCL and railways officials to take up this project on fast track so that production from mines does not hamper.

Goyal emphasised on long-term project planning and asked for a mines-wise detailed plan to be prepared for at least 20 years of operations.

“We need to review mine-wise regarding their coal dispatch capability,” he said while stressing on ensuring adequate coal supply to power plants.

The Minister was accompanied by Inderjit Singh, Secretary (Coal), A K Jha, Chairman, Coal India, R R Mishra, CMD, MCL and other senior officers of his Ministries and Coal India/MCL.

Piyush Goyal was on a day-long visit to review coal mining and supply operations of MCL.