Coal India (CIL) produced 191.57 million tonne (mn t) of coal during Apr-Sept 2012 and this is 7.17 mn t or 4 percent less than the target.
But this production is 8.46 percent more from the year-ago period. Sales at 214.5 mn t, fell short of the target by 7.20 mn t or 3 percent. Sales grew 7.16 percent over the corresponding period of last year.
The company attributed the below-target production and sales performance to the late onset of monsoon rains in August and September.
Coal India chairman S Narsing Rao, however, said the company will make up for the shortfall in the coming months. The firm has taken an ambitious production target for the coming months and it hopes to achieve the production target of 464.1 mn t for the year.
A senior executive at the company said production usually falls with the onset of monsoon as mines often get flooded.
Meanwhile, the production and sale shortfall may hit power generators, who are already struggling with coal shortages. It will also aggravate problems for Coal India, which is in the process of signing new fuel supply agreements with power producers that will make the miner liable to pay penalties if it fails to meet its supply commitments.