New Delhi: The Maharatna PSU Coal India Limited (CIL) said in a statement on Thursday that it achieved a record-breaking production of 60 million tonnes (MTs) in May, marking a significant 9.5 percent growth compared to the same month last year. This surge in output, amounting to an increase of 5.2 MTs, exceeded expectations considering that May production typically ranges between 40 MTs and 48 MTs. All of CIL's subsidiaries have also reported positive growth during this period, the statement added.
Although the growth rate in May 2022 was higher at 30 percent, the actual production volume stood at 54.7 MTs, surpassing the 50 MT milestone for the first time in CIL's history, said the statement. Further, it added that the robust growth of CIL's May production, both in volume and percentage terms, was achieved despite a high base from the previous year.
The cumulative production from April to May reached 117.5 MTs, reflecting an impressive year-on-year growth of 8.6 percent, equivalent to an increase of 9.3 MTs. This performance outpaced the production of 108.2 MTs during the same period in the previous fiscal year, the statement added.
Furthermore, total supplies in May soared to a healthy level of 63.7 MTs, posting a 4.1 percent increase compared to 61.2 MTs in May 2022. With the exception of WCL, which marginally fell short, all subsidiaries reported supplies that exceeded the levels from May 2022, the statement said.
During April and May, coal off-take reached 126 MTs, displaying a notable growth rate of 6.2 percent in comparison to the 118.6 MTs recorded in the corresponding period of the previous year. This increase amounts to 7.3 MTs, said the statement.
The statement also highlighted that CIL's overburden removal (OBR) witnessed a substantial surge in May, reaching 178.2 million cubic metres, signifying a robust growth rate of 35 percent compared to May 2022. All subsidiaries contributed to this growth, which not only bodes well for future coal production but also ensures the stabilisation of mine geometry. In the two-month period leading up to May 2023, CIL successfully excavated 346 McuM of OBR, registering an impressive growth rate of 32 percent, the statement added.
Further, the statement also emphasised that supplies to the non-power sector reached 22.3 MTs by the end of May 2023, posting a remarkable year-on-year growth of 29 percent. This two-month increase of 5 MTs compared to the same period last year, which saw supplies amounting to 17.3 MTs, indicates a positive trend, the statement added.
As summer continues, domestic coal-based power plants, primarily fueled by CIL, are comfortably stocked with 35 MTs of coal as of the end of May, said the statement. This amount is 60 percent higher than the 21.8 MTs recorded in May 2022. In addition, CIL's pitheads currently hold a coal inventory of 61 MTs, while an additional 15 MTs are distributed across private washeries, goods sheds, captive mines, ports, and in transit. Collectively, there is a substantial coal buffer of approximately 111 MTs, it added.
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