Nalco to enter agreement with Coal India, Railways

Angul, Aug 3 (UNI) Perturbed over short supply of coal from the Public Sector Mahanadi Coal Limited(MCL),the National Aluminium Company(NALCO)is contemplating to enter an agreement soon with Railway and Coal India to tide over the coal crisis.

NALCO sources said the Company is all set to draw about two rakes of coal daily from Bharat Cocking Coal limited (BCCL) to bail out its crisis resulting in closure of two of its Captive power plant here.

Company Chairman cum Managing Director C R Pradhan said talks with the Railways and CIL were almost over and the agreement is expected within a day or two to draw nearly 5000 tonne of upgraded coal daily by rail from BCCL.

Meanwhile, NALCO authorities have started drawing additional coal from Hingula mine at Talcher coalfield, situated at a distance of 20 Kms by tippers and dumpers from yesterday.

A senior official of the NALCO's Captive Power Plant said the company could take maximum 4000 tonne of coal from Hingula mine daily but the amount is not enough to restore the normal production in the power plant as the CPP required daily 10,000 to 12,000 tonne of coal to sustain power generation from its running five 120 Mw units.

There would be a requirement of minimum 14,000 tonne daily to put six units into stream to produce 720 MW of power from its own plant to maintain steady supply to its sensitive Smelter plant.

NALCO needs minimum 700MW of power to run 715 out of total 720 pots in Smelter Plant.

UNI