High cost of coal mining in India is under the spotlight as ministries bicker over the price that should be paid for surplus output from captive mines – a debate that has delayed policy formulation for extracting surplus coal and forced industry to import at significantly higher prices.

BHUBANESWAR: Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL), a Coal India subsidiary, has responded positively to the State Government’s proposal for establishment of a coal washery and coal reject-based power plants in joint venture with the Orissa Power Generation Corporation (OPGC). The MCL has requested OPGC to submit a detailed proposal with operational model of the proposed joint venture projects for consideration by the company.

SUNDARGARH:The much-awaited coal corridor proposal of the Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd (MCL) to free a vast rural population from the hazards of dust pollution is not moving on the expected lines. The coal transportation through these corridors will be easy and is expected to reduce dust pollution.

Sources said after intense public pressure it was decided that MCL would lay 33-km four-lane stretch exclusively for transportation of coal from its mines.

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has written to the Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL) proposing that the MCL set up a 10-MT-per-annum coal washery in joint venture between the MCL and the Odisha Power Generation Corporation (OPGC). In a letter written by commissioner-cum-secretary, energy G Mathivathanan, it is also proposed to set up a CFBC boiler-based power plant under the same joint venture to use the rejects produced from the washery.

BHUBANESWAR: The State Government has requested the Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL) to grant interim coal linkage to the Orissa Power Generation Corporation (OPGC) which is in the process of adding capacity to the existing thermal power station at Banharpalii in Jharsuguda district.
The State-run OPGC having two units of 210-MW capacity thermal power plant each is putting up two more units of 660-MW capacity (super critical) each at the same location to cater to the power requirement of the State.

BHUBANESWAR: The State Government on Saturday gave a proposal to Coal India Limited subsidiary Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL) for setting up a coal washery and a coal reject-based power plant. The proposal came against the backdrop of the Government facing problems in getting good quality thermal-grade coal for its power plant at Banharpali in Jharsuguda district.

The recent Presidential directive that makes it mandatory for Coal India Ltd to enter into fuel supply agreements (FSAs) with new power plants seems all set to address their concerns.

But it is doubtful whether any available stocks will be given to the old power plants, particularly in the public sector, which are struggling to run their units due to dwindling supplies from Coal India.

Coal ministry feels selloff proceeds will go to the cash-rich coal giant and not in govt coffers. The coal ministry is not in favour of divesting 10% stake in Coal India’s subsidiaries, as proposed by the divestment department, as it will only infuse more funds into the cash-rich coal giant, a senior ministry official told ET.

Bhubaneswar: The ongoing power crisis in Odisha on Wednesday took the centre-stage in the State Assembly with the Opposition members accusing the state government for doing nothing for the last 12 year to generate power to meet the growing needs of Odisha.
Participating in the discussion on the admissibility of an adjournment motion on power cut and states favouritism towards the industrial houses, energy minister Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak blamed the NTPC and Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd for accentuating the situation.

TALCHER: The Mahanadi Coalfields Limited, the coal supplier to Nalco, has refuted the charges of the Navratna company that its profit nosedived in the second quarter due to less and poor quality of coal.
Speaking to mediapersons here on Tuesday, MCL Director (Finance) Kulamani Biswal rejected the charges. He said, “at no point of time, the aluminium company had raised any objection on the quality of coal at the joint committee meetings.”