Hyderabad: With experts suggesting the El Nino effect could lead to a rise in power demand, Union minister G Kishan Reddy directed Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) to ensure uninterrupted coal supplies. He said that alongside Coal India Limited, SCCL must remain fully prepared to meet the electricity demand in both agriculture and industrial sectors.He also directed SCCL to expedite the finalisation and execution of transportation contracts so that additional coal production reaches consumers without delay.Kishan Reddy held a comprehensive review meeting at Singareni Bhavan on Saturday on SCCL’s operational performance and future strategy. He reviewed mine-wise production, overburden removal, status of ongoing and proposed mining projects, and future expansion plans. He asked SCCL to actively participate in the upcoming coal block auctions conducted by the Ministry of Coal to secure additional mining blocks and strengthen its production capacity.Kishan Reddy advised SCCL, being the only govt-owned coal producer in South India, to initiate a coal gasification project, even on a pilot scale.He particularly suggested exploring such a project in the Ramagundam industrial region, considering the presence of fertiliser and other industries, so that SCCL can capitalise on emerging opportunities in the clean coal value chain.
