Date:01/01/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/01/01/stories/2005010112060300.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Singareni likely to achieve coal production target

By Our Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD, DEC. 31. The 114-year-old Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) is poised to achieve its targeted coal production of 35 million tonnes by 2004-2005.

Addressing a press conference on Friday, the SCCL Chairman and Managing Director, R. H. Khwaja, said that the company is set to overtake its best-ever production figure of 33.85 tonnes achieved in 2003-2004. It made a remarkable turn around by wiping out its accumulated losses and earned profits from 2003-2004. The net profit for 2004-2005 is expected to be Rs. 264 crores.

New projects

The company achieved its highest coal production dispatches and the highest-ever profitability of Rs. 504 crores. Till December-end, the coal production was 24.9 tonnes, he said, adding that the targeted coal production would be achieved.

The chairman said that 25 new projects would commence, as 11 underground and six opencast mines would be closing between 2004-2017, reducing coal production by 15.30 tonnes.