West Bengal Power Development Corporation Ltd (WBPDCL) has achieved self-sufficiency in coal supply for its thermal plants during the current fiscal year, eliminating its reliance on Coal India Ltd. According to Chanchal Goswami, Director (Mining) at WBPDCL, the company aims to produce approximately 20 million tonnes of coal this fiscal, up from 18.41 million tonnes in FY’24.
Goswami noted that WBPDCL has completely phased out its coal procurement from Coal India, having sourced 3.85 million tonnes from them in the previous year. As of August 2024, dispatches from WBPDCL’s captive mines have reached 9.1 million tonnes, with a significant portion coming from Pachwara North in Jharkhand, expected to produce 15 million tonnes this fiscal year out of a total target of 20-21 million tonnes.
WBPDCL operates several other coal blocks through Mine Developer and Operators (MDOs), including Barjora, Gangaramchak, Tara East, Tara West, and Barjora North. The corporation currently boasts an installed capacity of 4,265 MW from seven thermal power units spread across five plants in West Bengal, with plans to add an additional 660 MW capacity from the Sagardighi plant by FY 2024-25.
In the previous fiscal year, Pachwara North alone produced 13.69 million tonnes of coal, complemented by 3 million tonnes from Gangaramchak and approximately 1 million tonnes from Barjora North. As of August FY’25, WBPDCL’s coal production has reached 5.1 million tonnes, supported by dispatches amounting to 9.1 million tonnes due to ample pithead stocks.
However, Goswami highlighted challenges related to production ramp-up, primarily stemming from inadequate evacuation infrastructure. He cited significant logistical hurdles in transporting coal from Pachwara North, necessitating transportation over 50-60 km before loading onto rakes, compounded by environmental concerns.
Looking ahead, WBPDCL plans to submit a mining proposal targeting 22 million tonnes, anticipating surplus coal production beyond captive requirements for potential commercial sales. Meanwhile, Girishkumar Kadam of ICRA emphasized positive performance trends in the power sector, particularly in renewables, driven by improved financial metrics and operational efficiencies.
