Centre Pulls Up Uttar Pradesh Over Delay In Developing Jharkhand Coal Block, CIL Continues Fuel Supply
The Centre has raised concerns over Uttar Pradesh’s delay in starting operations at its captive coal block in Jharkhand, stating that no significant progress has been made since the mine was allotted in 2015. The coal ministry said the delay has resulted in Coal India Ltd (CIL) continuing to supply coal to meet the fuel requirements of Uttar Pradesh’s thermal power plants. As per a report by…
The central government has expressed concerns over Uttar Pradesh's slow progress in developing a captive coal block in Jharkhand, after it was allocated to them in 2015. The coal ministry revealed that there has been minimal advancement in the mining operation since its allocation. Consequently, Coal India Ltd (CIL) has continued to supply coal to meet the energy demands of Uttar Pradesh's thermal power plants.
According to a report by Moneycontrol, the ministry has urged Uttar Pradesh Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Ltd (UPRVUNL) to expedite the development process of the Saharpur-Jamarpani coal block, which is located in Dumka district of Jharkhand. The Saharpur-Jamarpani mine boasts reserves exceeding 973 million tonnes. The ministry highlighted that over ten years after its allotment, the block remains unoperational due to a lack of initiative from UPRVUNL.
The coal ministry pointed out that out of the 147 commercial coal blocks designated for captive power sector use after Saharpur-Jamarpani, 14 have already begun production. The center has advised Uttar Pradesh to hasten the development of the mine to lessen reliance on external coal supplies and enhance long-term fuel security.
The government reassured that the coal availability for Uttar Pradesh's thermal plants is stable, as coal stocks at UPRVUNL facilities rose from 7.25 lakh tonnes on September 1 to 8.41 lakh tonnes by September 15. CIL delivered an average of around 17.7 rakes daily to UPRVUNL plants over the past ten days, and also supplied additional coal via road and rail-cum-road routes. However, operational issues, such as unloading constraints at some plants, have impeded the coal movement and limited further supply expansion.
The ministry clarified that the reduced power generation levels at UPRVUNL plants are not due to coal shortages, as the plant load factor remained around 48% despite the availability of sufficient coal. The ministry advised the state to tackle operational challenges and optimize the utilization of the existing coal resources.
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