Coal Supply Improves In October 2021, Shortages Linger: CARE Ratings

The overall coal production during October 2021 has significantly increased by 28.2% to 63.8 million tonnes (MT) as compared with October 2019 (non-Covid year) and by 14.7% compared with October 2020 (Covid year), CARE Ratings has said in a report.

"Coal production also showed significant improvement on a month-on-month (m-o-m) basis, and was up by 23.4% as the monsoon season receded leading to a pick-up in mining activities. During the month, Coal India Ltd. (CIL) produced 49.8 MT of coal, up 26.4% compared with October 2019. Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) produced 5.3 MT of coal, 4.7% higher compared with October 2019. Captive coal production jumped by 63.8%," the rating agency has said.

According to CARE Ratings on a cumulative basis, India's coal production increased by 12.2% during April 2021 to October 2021 period as compared with the corresponding period of the last year (2020) and 7.8% compared with the same period of 2019. Coal India Ltd (CIL) produced 299.6 MT of coal during April 2021 to October 2021 which is 45% of the annual production target of 670 MT for the full year FY 2022 (refers to financial year ending March 31, 2022).

Despatch of Coal

"The overall coal despatch has been 70.4 MT in the month of October 2021 as compared with 59.9 MT and 50.5 MT in October 2020 and October 2019, respectively. While despatch of coal to power sector and captive power plants (CPP) increased by 42% and 44%, respectively, during October 2021 when compared with October 2019, it fell sharply for other sectors like cement, steel,sponge iron as collieries prioritised fuel supply to coal-starved power plants to ensure uninterrupted electricity supply. Coal despatch to other sectors including fertilizers, textile, chemicals etc increased by 39% compared with October 2019 but fell by 38% y-o-y," CARE Ratings has said.