Aluminium plants receive fewest coal rail rakes in six months

Railway rakes supplying coal to aluminium plants have dropped to the lowest since the peak of an energy crisis in September, forcing the industry to import more amid rising cost pressures.

The industry got an average of 18.4 coal-laden carriages a day in the first half of March, the lowest since the 17.8 rakes it received in September, according to data provided by Coal Minister Pralhad Joshi in a written reply to Parliament. Coal is supplied to power plants in India through railways and roads, but buyers located far from mines prefer the trains as road transport is costlier.