MCL maintains accelerated growth in coal output

Talcher, Apr 17 (UNI) The coal mines of Mahanadi Coal Lmited(MCL) in Orissa have maintained an accelerated growth in coal output, dispatch, profit and productivity during 2006-2007.

While there had been a growth of 14.94 per cent in coal output, the company also recorded dispatch of 76.42 million ton coal, registering an increase of 8.2 million ton compared to the previous year.

The company, however, fell behind the targeted dispatch of 80 million ton in the last financial year by 3.48 million ton, which had been attributed due to the less wagon supply by the Railways.

Power sector alone lifted 68 per cent of total coal offtake of MCL. During the year about 51.70 million ton of coal dispatched to power utilities.

In the wagon loading the company achieved an average wagon loading of 5270 per day as against the target of 5496 wagon. The overburden removal also registered a growth of 7.9 per cent. The coal company in 2006-07 removed 55.468 cubic meter as against 51.433 cubic meter in the previous year.

Last year the company fell behind the target due to frequent agitation by land oustees and low supply of explosives. The coal company made a sales realisation of its 99.9 per cent billing.

The total realisation stood at Rs 4754.45 crore as against the billing of Rs 4756.45 crore, according to company records.

Official reports claimed that MCL would make a provisional pre-tax profit of Rs 2010 crore as against the target of Rs 1837 crore in 2006-07.

The profit during 2005-2006 was Rs 1837 crore.

MCL, sources said, stood second in terms of raw coal production, offtake and pre-tax profit among the eight coal subsidiaries of Coal India Limited (CIL).

The company had alone shared about 60 per cent of the overall growth of CIL in the outgoing financial year by producing 80.001 million ton against the annual target of 80 million ton.

MCL, the flagship company of CIL, also ranked first in Open cast mine production of coal. CIL produced raw coal of 360.94 million ton during the financial year, an increase of 17.55 ton over the previous year of which MCL alone accounted for 10.40 million ton.

UNI