Suresh Prabhu led advisory group panel bats for coal, power sector reforms

23 Dec 2014 Evaluate

An advisory group, headed by railway minister Suresh Prabhu in its final report for ‘Integrated Development of Power, Coal, and Renewable Energy’ has made a strong case for opening the coal sector to supplement production by Coal India. The report lists suggestions for enhancing coal production in the short, medium and long terms, besides making suggestions for improvements required in state run Coal India and its subsidiaries including Central Mine Planning and Design Institute (CMPDI).

Emphasizing upon the need for round the clock power supply, the group has pressed for reform of electricity distribution, including privatisation and public-private partnerships, separation of carriage and content in distribution licences, and an enhanced role for and improvements in the working of the Central Electricity Authority.

Further, the report has also suggested salient aspects of the coal block auction process, coal linkage rationalization, swapping of coal linkages, need for urgent action on coal linkages to power plants already commissioned and likely to be commissioned by March 2015.

Moreover, the group has recommended phasing out old and inefficient thermal power plants that burn excessive fuel and encouraged the argument of setting up new coal based thermal plants to set up a renewable energy generation station.

Lastly, the group also has called for stringent penalties to improve quality of service and grid discipline, establishing regional regulators in consultation with states and a mechanism to review of the performance of regulatory commissions through a forum of regulators.

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