Goyal asks Coal India to ensure supply for power sector

Union Coal Minister Piyush Goyal has asked Coal India to focus on meeting coal demand, particularly from the power sector, in a review meeting held here today.

Owing to a sharp rise in coal demand from the power sector, Coal India was finding it difficult to meet the demand despite steady rise in supply to the sector.

Sources said that in the meeting, Goyal called for better coordination between Coal India and Railways to ramp up supplies.

He also asked Coal India to plan for the next fiscal for better production and supply, sources said.

Coal India has registered a 15.2 per cent growth in coal production during the first quarter ended June 2018 to 136.87 million tonne while supply to power plants also jumped by 15.4 per cent to 122.84 million tonne.

Projects stuck due to environmental issues were also discussed at the meeting, the sources said.

Goyal, in a tweet on the meeting, had ensured sufficient and adequate coal availability across the nation.