Sambalpur, Nov 27: Odisha will soon become the new energy hub in the country with Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL) strategically heading towards 250 million tonne coal production target by 2020 along with diversification into power generation and transmission sectors, MCL CMD AK Jha has said.
Jha told newsmen here that Odisha will soon become the energy hub of India with MCL alone fueling over 20 per cent of power plants in India. This Coal India arm in coastal state has started leading in coal production, OB removal and dry fuel dispatch in the country, he added. “We are at a position from where we can easily achieve 250 million tonne coal production target by 2020, given the conducive atmosphere to enhance production and dispatch,” the CMD said.
The company is setting-up a 2 x 800 MW Super Critical Thermal Power Plant at its Basundhara Area in Sundergarh district besides a joint venture transmission utility Neelachal Power Transmission Company, Jha said.
MCL, the youngest subsidiary of world leader Coal India Limited which is on its way to be the largest coal producer in the country by the end of this financial year, has also made strategic tie ups with the state government and railways for evacuation of coal output, Jha asserted.
He said e company has entered into joint venture with Odisha Government and the Railways to form a company — Mahanadi Coal Railway Limited – to expedite the rail development project and strengthen transport communication network in the State.
Jha said, coal production from Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL) is likely to get a fillip as Indian Railways is expected to complete the 52-kms-long Barpali-Jharsuguda line by June 2016, solving the major evacuation problem in the coal-rich Basundhara fields in Sundergarh district of Odisha.
