Coal India reports 4.7 per cent growth in first half of 2013-14

Coal India Ltd (CIL), on Monday, closed the first-half of current fiscal with a production of 200.5 million tonnes, which was 4.7 per cent higher than the same period in the previous year.

Aided mostly by Orissa-based Mahanadi Coalfields, production increased by 15.6 per cent while offtake improved by 9.2 per cent in September, senior officials said.

For the second year in a row, CIL has bucked its past trend of seeing its production plans go awry during monsoons.

Subsidiaries

Sources said all coal-producing subsidiaries of CIL, barring Western Coalfields, posted positive growth in the six-month period. However, production still trailed targets by 5 million tonnes, while the offtake target was missed by 3 million tonnes between April and September.

CIL Chairman S. Narsing Rao told

The Hindu that this was ‘doable’. “We have done well in many respects, including supplies to the power sector, but we need to do better,’’ he said.