MCL blames Nalco for CPP crisis

  • 17/08/2012

  • Pragtivadi (Bhubaneswar)

Bhubaneswar: The crisis faced by Nalco at its Angul plant is due to its own failure, Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL) alleged today. In a press release issued today, MCL said the Navaratna PSU had failed to pay heed to repeated requests made by it to ensure regular supply of rakes to lift coal and keep sufficient stocks for the rainy season. It may be noted that Nalco had to shut down two units of its captive power plant (CPP) recently due to inadequate supply of coal. The MCL press release said the company had put in place an early alarm procedure for its consumers whereby it provides prior information about emerging situations and remedial measures thereof so that the fuel supply agreement (FSA) commitments are fulfilled. MCL authorities in the areas of Talcher Coalfields, which ensures supply of sufficient quantity of coal to the Nalco, repeatedly requested the aluminum company to ensure continuous lifting of coal from the pithead coal stock, the release said. In view of rainy season, during which coal mining and dispatch becomes a tough task, MCL had managed enough coal at its pit heads and sidings to meet the requirement of its consumer, it added. In a letter dated February 5, 2012 to Nalco Executive Director, MCL’s Bharatpur Area General Manager had informed that supply of coal had been stopped to the aluminum company since January 27, 2012 due to non-supply of rakes which had given rise to an alarming situation due to accumulation of coal at pit head ground stock. In view of possible roadblocks, MCL authorities vide a letter dated July 27, 2012, had informed that there was pit head stock of 7.5 million tonne at different mines in Talcher Coalfields and requested Nalco, CPP Unit, Angul, to lift coal through road mode as per their suitability from any mine of MCL’s Talcher Coalfields so that the extent of scheduled FSA quantity can be achieved. As on date, MCL has stocks of 6.5 million tonnes of coal lying at its pit heads of mines and 2.5 lakh tonne at railway sidings in Talcher Coalfields. Nalco is to lift 22 per cent of total FSA during current quarter i.e. July-Sept which comes to 10,000 tonne per day, the press release said.