Paradip: Union Power Secretary Alok Kumar, along with Additional Secretary Vivek Kumar Dewangan, undertook a whirlwind tour of Paradip Port to take stock of domestic/imported thermal coal evacuation systems.
Kumar, who was welcomed by PPA Chairman P L Haranadh at the Wet Basin and given a ceremonial guard of honour by the CISF unit, conducted an inspection of the port infrastructure as well as modernization projects.
He also visited the PEQCTPL Hoper and Mechanised Coal Handling Plant to get a first-hand experience of procedures in place and issues involved in augmenting coal supply through Paradip Port.
A sweltering summer has resulted in power shortages in several states of late.
Kumar chaired a review meeting on coal supply to power plants, which was attended by Chairman, Deputy Chairman and other officials of Paradip Port, Chief Freight Transportation Manager of East Coast Railway, NTPC Ltd, Chief Manager (Marketing & Sales) of Mahanadi Coal Fields Ltd & Coal India Ltd, and senior officials from AP Genco, Tamil Nadu Genco and Karnataka Genco.
PPA Chairman Haranadh informed the Power Secretary that the port has a capacity to unload 41 thermal coal rakes per day against the present supply of 31 rakes per day. The capacity, he informed, is likely to be enhanced to 46 rakes per day by July 2022 and 57 rakes per day by October 2022.
Representatives from various Gencos highlighted their critical stock position and sought more supply of thermal coal rakes.
The Power Secretary instructed concerned authorities to address the bottlenecks on priority basis.
He instructed Railways to complete the ongoing projects like electrification in new BOT Bulb and shifting of IFFCO on CONCOR’s MMLP.
Railways has assured that the projects will be completed by July 2022.
Kumar also reviewed rail connectivity projects like Sambalpur-Talcher doubling work, quadrupling work of Jharpada-Budhapank and Budhapank-Salegaon, auto-signalling between Cuttack and Paradip.
He instructed Railways and Port to prepare a joint master plan taking into account traffic potential in the hinterland of the Port.
