Coal India Ltd (CIL) has shifted its focus to preparing mines for ramping up production, instead of immediately producing more coal. This shift is needed as power demand has fallen due to the lockdown, directly affecting coal requirement.
A Coal Ministry statement said, “With a reduced domestic demand of coal, CIL has shifted its focus to the enhancement of the overburden removal – the process of removing the top soil and rock to expose coal seams in its open cast mines. Over 95 per cent of CIL’s coal production comes from its 171 open cast mines.”
“The enhancement in over burden removal will enable CIL to accelerate coal production whenever the demand picks up and coal can be supplied to its customers at short notice,” the statement said.
