NTPC' captive coal output to nearly treble in 2018-19

State-run power giant NTPC is expected to end the current financial year with captive coal production of 7.25 million tonne, up a massive 170 per cent, from 2.68 million tonne in the year-ago period, a company official said.

The official said that while output at NTPC's Pakri Barwadih coal mine at Jharkhand has seen a sizeable jump to 6.75 million tonne in FY19, from 2.68 million tonne in FY18, Dulanga coal mine in Odisha has started production as well. The Dulanga mine will end the current financial year with an output of 0.5 million tonne.

"Mining of coal is integral to our overall fuel security strategy. A Greater degree of self-reliance in coal will go a long way in ensuring sustained growth of our power generation operations, the official said.

We made a debut in captive coal production just two years ago so the jump in output for the current financial year is encouraging.

However, at 7.25 million tonne, the NTPC's captive coal production is still a fraction of its annual coal ...