Odisha, CoalMin to ink pact for coal evacuation

New Delhi: The Coal Ministry is expected to sign a pact on Monday with railways and the Odisha government to implement projects for evacuation of fuel, a top official today said.

"MoU (memorandum of understanding) to be signed on 20th of April between the Coal and Railway (ministries) and Odisha government to implement railway projects for coal evacuation," Coal secretary Anil Swarup said in a tweet.

In February, Coal India had said that it along with the Odisha government and the Railways will set up two special purpose vehicles (SPV) for the evacuation of dry fuel.

These SPVs would be mainly for constructing additional lines, sidings for evacuating coal from the CIL mines in Odisha, the state-run miner had said in a filing to the BSE.

"A meeting was held...between Chief Secretary, Odisha and Secretary (Coal) Anil Swarup where senior officials of Railways/State government and MCL (Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd), a Coal India subsidiary were present," the filing had said.

"A preliminary agreement was reached to form two SPVs, one in Talcher and other in IB Valley coalfields for evacuation of coal," filing added.

Coal India would be the majority shareholder with 64 per cent stake in each of the SPV. The Railways would have 26 per cent stake each and the remaining 10 per cent shareholding would be with the Odisha government.

Coal India chairman Suthirtha Bhattacharya had earlier said a lot of deliberations have been carried out with the government and internally on various models to enhance the rail connectivity for coal movement.

Total 50 odd rail projects had been identified to connect with mines.