NTPC to import 8 mn tons of coal in FY'09

NEW DELHI: State-run power generating firm NTPC plans to import eight mn tons of coal in current fiscal to bridge the shortfall in total requirement of 125 mn tons even as it plans to become a 75,000 MW company by the year 2017.

"Our total requirement of coal in this fiscal (2008-09) is around 125 MT, out of which we plan to import 8 MT," NTPC Chairman and Managing Director R S Sharma said.

The company was producing less power as it received less coal from domestic sources. At an average, NTPC faced a shortfall of 10-12 mn tons of coal a year.

NTPC, which at present has an installed capacity of 29,000 MW, plans to add 22,000 MW capacity in the XIth Plan Period (2007-12) and another 25,000 MW by 2017.

These additions will take the company's total generating capacity to 75,000 MW, he said.

The company also plans to enter into nuclear and renewable segments of power generation. "We are planning to foray into the nuclear and renewable power generation," Sharma said.

Country's largest power producer plans to focus on adoption of supercritical technology in order to reduce coal consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.

It would commission country's first 660 MW supercritical unit in March 2009 and has also identified sites for manufacturing 800 MW supercritical units to be commissioned by 2017.