Over 91% of coal produced in Coal India mines are being transported to thermal plants across India as an attempt to tide over the ongoing power crisis, which has seen stocks of the fuel deplete in recent weeks. The remaining is diverted for other industries.
Power plants across India are facing an acute shortage of coal, with stocks down to last mere days, due to a supply crunch and increased demand. The central government has admitted there is shortage of the fuel, but said it was scaling up production and that there was no need to panic.
Of the eight Coal India mining companies in the country, Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL) in Odisha is supplying the highest stocks, at around 96 of the total 289 rakes per day.
