Ministry of Coal recommends extension of bridge coal linkage to NALCO
Nalco has submitted a revised plan to the Coal Ministry on November 12, 2020. It is said that SLC on Nalco’s commitment recommended the extension of bridge linkage to start production of around 5 lakh tonne.
Bhubaneswar: The bridge coal linkage to the captive power plant of aluminum major National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO) is likely to be extended for two more years. The Standing Linkage Committee of the Ministry of Coal has recommended the extension up to March 31, 2023.
It is considering that the delay in production from Nalco’s captive coal blocks - Utkal-D and Utkal-E leads to the extension.
“In view of the recommendation of the administrative ministry (Ministry of Mines) and keeping in view the production schedule from Utkal-D coal mine, the standing linkage committee (long term) recommended extension of bridge linkage to Nalco’s Unit 9 and 10 (120 MW each) up to March 31, 2023,” said the Coal Ministry in a recent communication. The Navratna company under the Ministry of Mines had requested the Coal Ministry in November 2020 for an extension of bridge linkage to the units for a further period of three years beginning April 2021.
Presently the Captive Thermal Power Plant has a generation capacity of 1200 MW (10X120MW). While the captive thermal power plant provides entire electric power requirement of aluminium smelter, it also feeds for approximately 35 MW of the power requirement to the alumina refinery through the State Grid.
The company had been allotted Utkal-D and E coal blocks, having a reserve of more than 200 million tonnes of coal, near its captive power plant in Angul district on May 2, 2016 for Units 9 and 10 and proposed Unit 11 and Unit 12, which are 250 MW each. “Though the scheduled date of operation of coal mines was January 2020, it could not stick to the commencement plan for the allotted blocks due to factors beyond its control,” company sources said.
Nalco has submitted a revised plan to the Coal Ministry on November 12, 2020. It is said that SLC on Nalco’s commitment recommended the extension of bridge linkage to start production of around 5 lakh tonne from Utkal-D coal block in December, 2022, and ramp up the rated production capacity to around 20 lakh tonne by 2024.