Monday, November 28, 2011

Availability of Coal for Power Plants

As per the assessment made by the Central Electricity Authority (CEA), the coal requirement for the power plants designed on indigenous coal has been estimated at 457 Million Tonnes during 2011-12. Against this requirement, the coal availability from the indigenous sources has been estimated at 405 Million Tonnes and the balance has to be met through imports by power utilities. Ministry of Power has fixed import target of 35 Million Tonnes, which is considered equivalent to about 52 Million Tonnes of indigenous coal due to higher calorific value of imported coal, for import by the power utilities during 2011-12. This was informed by Shri Pratik Prakashbapu Patil , Minister of state in the Ministry of Coal while replying a written question in Rajya Sabha today.

To ensure that targets are met, the coal supplies to the power utilities are monitored regularly by an Inter-Ministerial Sub group constituted in Ministry of Coal which also issues necessary directions for meeting any contingent situations relating to coal supplies to power utilities. Further, the Secretary (Co-ordination), Cabinet Secretariat periodically reviews the position of coal supplies to power utilities.

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