NTPC provides coal operation update
Published by Jessica Casey,
Editor
World Coal,
NTPC Ltd has suffered an estimated production loss of 900 000 t of coal in September as operations at the company’s Pakri-Barwadih mines were completely halted since 1 September 2020 due to local agitation. The agitation, which is driven by vested interests, has not only halted the mining operations but also stopped coal dispatch and infrastructure development activities like construction of mine end CHP and cross country conveyor.
The stoppage of mining and dispatch activities is also causing huge loss to the local economy, which is directly and indirectly dependent on one of India’s largest coal mines operated by NTPC.
The impasse has prompted NTPC to seek help from district administration. Further, approximately 550 000 t of coal is lying at the dump yard. NTPC is being unable to transport them because of protests by landowners led by local vested interest since 1 September 2020.
Though NTPC has offered land compensation rates and R&R benefits among all other coal mines in the area, regarded as one of the best in the country, locals are being misled by people with vested interest causing the stoppage in the mining activities leading to mass scale unemployment in the region.
The company has been trying its best to resolve the issue in an amicable manner. The central government-owned power producer has approached the state government of Jharkhand at various levels and has requested for intervention to resolve the blockade in order to restart the mining and infrastructure work.
Pakri-Barwadih, Chatti-Bariatu and Chatti-Bariatu (South), Kerandari and Badam coal blocks, which were allocated to NTPC, are located in Hazaribagh District of Jharkhand. At their optimum peak-rated capacity, NTPC will produce 34 million tpy of coal from these four mines, which will generate approximately 6800 MW of electricity.
Read the article online at: https://www.worldcoal.com/coal/13102020/ntpc-provides-coal-operation-update/
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