Coal shortage hurting non-power sectors still year after supply shift

Since the start of a mismatch in the demand and supply of coal in August last year — and the government decision to prioritise power units for coal supply — the non-power sectors of steel, aluminium, iron, paper, cement, etc, have been suffering. Almost a year later, and despite an increase in coal production, the situation of these sectors has hardly improved, sector executives told Business Standard.

In the past year, the non-power sectors have seen a fall of 33 per cent in coal dispatches. At the start of the coal shortage in August 2021, the Centre had directed national miner Coal India Ltd (CIL) to prioritise the power sector for coal supply and divert coal from other sectors if necessary.

“The