Government advises power companies to import 46 mt coal in 2012-13

NEW DELHI: The government has advised power generating utilities to import 46 million tonnes of coal in the current fiscal to bridge the gap between demand for coal and its domestic supply, power minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said on Thursday.

The total requirement of coal in 2012-13 has been calculated as 500 million tonnes including 476 million tonnes indigenous coal and 24 million tonnes imported coal, the minister said in Lok Sabha.

The total domestic coal availability from Coal India Ltd, Singareni Colliery Company Ltd and captive mines is only 407 million tonnes. Coal India Limited has decided to acquire coal resources abroad to bridge the increasing demand supply gap and enhance energy security of the country, he said.

The thrust areas of this overseas venture are to acquire thermal coal assets, undertake their exploration, operate the mines and import the produce to India for supply to thermal power plants, he said.

Also against a gas requirement of around 85 million metric standard cubic meter per day(MMSCMD) at 90% plant load factor, 35 MMSCMD gas is being supplied to the gas-based power stations in the country, he said.