Nalco employees seek Centre's intervention to end coal crisis

The employees of National Aluminium Company (Nalco), a Navratna PSU under Union Ministry of Mines have urged the Prime Minister to come up with a comprehensive plan to stop the recurrence of crisis in supply of coal to the company.

NK Samal, working president of Nalco Employees’ Sangha, affiliated to INTUC, also made an appeal to the Ministry of Coal, Ministry of Mines and Railways authorities, seeking immediate action to optimize coal supply to the PSU.

He said, the company is already losing around Rs 1 crore everyday due to the short supply of coal which may lead to further loss to the national exchequer in days to come if the problem persists and the government doesn’t come up with timely interventions.

The operation of Nalco’s smelter has been severely affected due to short supply of coal from the linkage provided to the company by Mahanadi Coalfields (MCL), he added.

He said, while Nalco requires around 17,000 million tonnes (mt) coal daily, the company is receiving only 8,000 MT coal from the source due to heavy rains since last week. The recent decision of railways to impose restriction on rail movements has added to the woes.

It may be noted that the PSU has already shut down 60 out of its 960 aluminium making pots at its Smelter, to ensure safe operations of the remaining pots as the plant requires uninterrupted power supply for operation of the potlines.

Samal pointed out that the operation of Nalco is being affected due to short supply of coal even though the pit head is situated just 10 kms away. He has also sought the attention of state Chief Minister and Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi towards the matter.