In order to achieve its despatch target of 493 million ton (mn t) in 2013-14, state-run miner Coal India (CIL) plans to raise its average daily loading to 212 railway rakes in the current year from the 186 rakes in 2012-13.

The the world?s largest coal miner achieved an average daily rake loading of 201.5 in April 2013, a 11.4 per cent growth over 180.6 in the same month last year. CIL would have achieved a much higher level of growth had it hit targeted loading,? said S Narsing Rao, Chairman of Coal India. Every additional loading of 1.8 rakes entails 1 per cent extra growth, he said.

Of the 493 mn t target, 482 mn t will be sourced from production and another 11 mn t from stock liquidation in 2013-14. In 2012-13, it cobbled together offtake of 465 mn t, 452 mt of production and 13 mn t of stock liquidation.

CIL is keen on stepping up loading in April and May before the monsoon breaks out in June. After that, normal production as well as loading will be hit at least for four months till September.

To make up for this loss in production and offtake, daily average loading in the remaining months, especially in the second half, has to be substantially higher than the targeted average for the whole year. This poses a real challenge, he said.

Rao expects the Railways to play its part. The beginning has been good, he observes, pointing out that there was no shortage of rakes in April.