SECL expects to top output target

South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL)""the largest coal producing company in the country""is set to comfortably cross the target of coal production in this financial year ending March 31.

According to SECL officials, the company has set a target of producing 91.5 million ton (mnt) of coal in the current fiscal.

The officials are however hopeful that they will comfortably cross the target and are set to produce 93.5mnt coal before the end of financial year 2007-08.

As on March 13, the company produced 88.46mnt of coal as against the target of 86.43mnt, registering 102.35 percent achievement.

Last year, the production in the corresponding period was 82.42mnt, about seven per cent less than this year's achievement.

SECL, which was awarded "Mini Ratna" status by the union government in 2007, has been making profits since its inception. In the year 2006-07, the company produced 88.502mnt of coal.

This year, the company would cross the target comfortable and was set to cross the figure of 93mnt of coal production.

In the year 2006-07, the Coal India Limited (CIL) had set the target of producing 360.94mnt of coals.

Of that, the SECL produced 88.502mnt from open cast and underground mines.

The achievement of the company was highest among all subsidiaries company of CIL.

SECL has coal deposits in five districts Bilaspur, Korba, Raigarh, Surguja and Korea in Chhattisgarh and three districts Shahdol, Umaria, and Anuppur in Madhya Pradesh.

The company has in all 93 mines, of which 72 are underground and 20 are open cast mines. One is a mixed mine.

In Chhattisgarh, the company has 40 underground and 12 open cast mines besides a mixed mine while in Madhya Pradesh, it has 32 underground and eight open cast mines.