Coal India will surpass 550 MT Target: Piyush Goyal

Kolkata, Nov 2: Asserting India will not have to depend upon imports, union Coal and Power Minister Piyush Goyal on Sunday exuded confidence of Coal India surpassing its production target of 550 million tonne (MT) for the current fiscal.

Addressing the 41st foundation day of the Maharatna company here, he also said the CIL was on track towards achieving its production target of one billion tonne of coal by 2019-20.

“In the last few months, particularly September, coal imports have fallen and I hope in the months to come, the trend will continue. In two years from now, we should be able to become self sufficient and we will not have to import, particularly thermal coal,” said Goyal.

“In the first half of the year, coal production growth was nine percent. The target is to cross 550 million tonne by March. I have no doubt that we will achieve that target. I am sure that on 31st March (2016) Coal India chairman will send me a message informing that we have surpassed the target,” said the minister.

Goyal said there was no shortage of power in any part of the country and credited CIL for ensuring that all power plants in the country had adequate supply of coal. Urging employees to consider themselves more as trustees of the nation’s asset, Goyal exhorted them to make the CIL the world’s most valuable company.

“From managers to workers all need to consider themselves as trustees of the nation’s asset and should ensure that there is no place for corruption. Whenever there is some wastage or impropriety, they must act as whistle blowers,” he said.

The minister also lauded the world’s largest coal producer for its corporate social responsibility efforts under which the company and its subsidiaries constructed over 51,000 toilets for schools across the country. On the occasion, he also launched Lead- the e-HR magazine of the company.

Addressing the event, CIL chairman Suthirtha Bhattacharya said the company was endeavouring to become a “people’s brand”.