New Delhi [India], March 26 (ANI): India’s imports of non-cooking coal fell to 125.61 million tons during April-January period of the current financial year, which is 23.33 per cent lower when compared with the 163.85 million tons recorded in the corresponding period of last fiscal, the government data showed on Saturday. “With considerable increase in domestic coal production, India has achieved significant reduction in import of coal despite surge in power demand,” the Ministry of Coal said in a statement.
The domestic coal-based power generation upto January 2022 is 815.72 Billion Units (BU) with an increase of 12.55 per cent over 724.746 BU during the corresponding period of FY20. Imported coal based power generation which was 78.07 BU during April to January 2020 has reduced by 55 per cent to 35.13 BU during corresponding months of current FY22.
The import of Non Coking coal primarily used in power sector has decreased by 60.87 per cent from 58.09 MT to 22.73 MT upto January 2022 in comparison to the same period of FY 20. The overall import of coal has also reduced to 173.20 MT in the period from April to January 2022 as compared to 207.235 MT during the corresponding period of FY 20, a decrease of about 16.42 per cent which has resulted in significant savings of forex reserves this year especially when the coal prices are at a high level in the international market. “All efforts are on to further enhance domestic coal production as availability of additional coal will aid in import-substitution,” the ministry said.
India is the world’s third-largest energy-consuming country and electricity demand grows by 4.7 per cent each year. (ANI)
Power Ministry asks states to take timely action for coal supply
New Delhi [India], March 26 (ANI): The Ministry of Power said on Saturday it has issued a circular requesting the states to take action against imported coal-based power plants if they fail to maintain adequate coal stocks. “It has been reported that a number of power plants are taking much longer time than the norm in unloading coal from railway rakes which is affecting the turn-around time. CEA (central electricity authority) has been asked to monitor the unloading time at power plants and it has been decided that lesser number of rakes would be made available to such power plants where there is slackness in prompt unloading of coal from rakes,” the Ministry of Power said. “This step has been taken with the objective of maximising the utilisation of available railway rakes. Therefore, this aspect may be monitored at the level of State Government and unloading of coal may be ensured within the given norm,” it said.
The ministry said it has been monitoring coal supply situation in the country and has taken steps to ensure adequate coal supply and coal stocks based on the domestic coal received from Coal India Limited (CIL), Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) and Captive coal mines. As per decision taken in the Ministry of Power in consultation with State Gencos (power generation companies), Independent power producers (IPPs) and Central Gencos, domestic coal supply will be made proportional to the coal received from CIL/SCCL for all the Gencos and it will not be possible to give more coal other than on proportionate basis to make up any shortfall, the Ministry of Power said in a statement.
“It has been observed that non-operation of certain Imported Coal-Based (ICB) plants in States had put more pressure on domestic coal demand leading to low coal stocks for domestic coal-based (DCB) plants,” it said.
The ministry noted that procurers and sellers are legally bound by the PPA in force as signed by both the parties. While the procurers are bound to pay the bills timely as per PPA, the Gencos (sellers) are bound to maintain adequate fuel stocks and offer availability as per PPA. “Not maintaining adequate fuel stocks or not giving availability on any pretext (such as high price of imported coal etc) is inexcusable. Such a conduct on the part of seller should be immediately responded to by the procurer sternly by using all possible contractual and other available legal interventions at the level of State Government,” it said.
If any gaming is noticed on the part of seller such as not supplying electricity under PPA and selling in market should be brought to notice of the Regulatory Commission without any delay under intimation to the Ministry of Power for immediate intervention, it added. (ANI)
