Coal quality, price discussed with Power Minister: Gujarat government

NEW DELHI: Quality and price of coal were top issues in today's meeting between the Power Minister Piyush Goyal and Gujarat Energy Minister Saurabh Patel here.

"Today specifically we had come for Gujarat issues. Secretary Coal, Secretary Power, NTPC officials and other officials were present and how to resolve our pending issues regarding coal and all other things were discussed," Patel told reporters here after the meeting.

"Quality of coal, pricing of coal, freight cost, issues with NTPC also were discussed," he said, without divulging details about the NTPC issue.

He added, "In the last 10 years, we never had the opportunity to meet the Power or the Coal Minister and this time we had this opportunity and we have been heard."

According to sources, the state government wanted NTPC to swap the imported coal it receives through Gujarat for its thermal power projects in Chhattisgarh with the raw material available at the Bilaspur mines.

In return, Gujarat will utilise that imported coal. The plan is aimed at reducing transportation expenses at both the ends.

"NTPC has agreed to the proposed arrangement," sources said.

NTPC operates two projects -- Korba (2,600 MW) and Sipat (2,980 MW) -- in Chhattisgarh. The total installed power capacity of Gujarat is 27,647 MW.

Patel also met the Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan today.