CONSUMERS’ PAGE Present Coal Scenario Coal India has produced 84.36 million tonnes of coal in March 2020, registering a growth of 6.5% over 79.19 million tonnes produced in the same month of last year. Total coal production for the period of April 2019 to March 2020 stood at 602.14 million tonnes which is 0.8% lower than 606.89 million tonnes produced in the corresponding period of the previous year. Coal offtake in March also registered a decline. The offtake amount stood at 53.45 million tonnes in March, 2020 compared to 59.60 million tonnes in same month of last year, registering a decline in offtake by 10.30% on a month-on-month basis. For the period of April 2019 to March 2020, total coal offtake stood lower by 4.3% at 581.73 million tonnes compared to 608.14 million tonnes in the corresponding period last year.
Consumers’ Concern 1. Request for exemption of advance payment through moratorium for Power sector: Amidst unprecedented nationwide lockdown, partial or complete closure of many industries has further reduced the already subdued power demand. Many power plants are already running at low Plant Load Factor (PLF).
10 | CCAI Monthly Newsletter March 2020
Also, a number of central and state government power houses are facing severe cash crunch due to non-payment by discoms. Private power utilities are also facing the brunt due to the same. This situation may not be temporary and might have a cascading effect on to generating units for a longer period. To tackle the present situation, Power Sector consumers have requested the Coal Ministry to provide exemption of advance payment against coal supply for secured quantities under vari-
