Mahanadi Coalfields to Double Output to 300 Mtpa by 2026

Bhubaneswar, Jun 16 (PTI) Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd (MCL) on Sunday said it will more than double production to 300 million tonne by 2026 with long-term planning and inclusion of new technology.

"We are into a long-term planning to ensure that mining operations remain smooth to register cosistent growth. By 2025-26, the company is expected to achieve the 300 million tonne target," Chairman-cum-Managing Director Bhola Nath Shukla said.

MCL, a subsidiary of mining major Coal India Ltd, produced around 144 million tonne during 2018-19 and has set a target of 160 million tonne this fiscal.

Out of the 300 mtpa coal production target set by MCL, 200 million tonne will be produced by Talcher coalfields alone, Shukla told reporters.

Asserting that the company has taken major initiatives to enhance coal evacuation through infrastructure development like coal corridor and SILOs, the CMD said the focus would be on speedy capacity enhancement of the rail infrastructure.

This will also help private players develop their coal blocks and contribute towards meeting the growing energy demand of the country, he said.

To a query about the Mahanadi Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Talcher, Shukla said the academic block had been inaugurated, while the hospital is under development to cater to the need of a 500-bed facility.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)