Coal imports meet roadblock as Indonesia imposes new rule

20 Jun 2011 Evaluate

The power sector, perturbed due to demand-supply gap of coal, may face trouble in its coal imports. The major coal exporter Indonesia has made recent policy change which mandates all coal exporters to sell coal at market prices. Due to rise in demand of coal from India and China, another major coal exporter Australia may follow this move or restrict the exports.

This will affect the private producers as they operate power plant on imported coal due to Indian government’s priority based allocation. These private producers, who are allowed to import only 30% coal, are already importing it at higher prices as compared to what is being offered by domestic major distributor Coal India (CIL). The Reliance Powers 4,000-MW Krishnapatnam Ultra Mega Power projects (UMPP) is facing road block for the similar reason as the plants coal requirement is fulfilled by Indonesia and such change in policy has become a road block for this UMPP.

This will not only affect the growth of power sector but also may lead to rise in the electricity prices thereby affecting the inflation troubled Indian economy. The various factors affecting the power sectors growth has already moved away the FDI. The delay from environment ministry in approving the captive blocks is further widening the demand-supply gap. This is also one of the major reasons for delay in ambitious UMPP of Indian government.

The power minister is expected to discuss this issue with the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Energy produced with the help of coal contributes to 66% of the total electricity supply. Also, gas has made lower than expected contribution and has not been of much help to the economy.

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