Coal and Power ministries to meet again soon on coal price pooling issue

11 Apr 2013 Evaluate

Coal and power ministries are likely to meet again to come up with the best possible model for coal price pooling by which the prices of domestic and imported coal are averaged to get a uniform price for the fuel in the country. The proposed model will be then taken to the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) for its consideration.

Earlier, in February, CCEA had given its in-principle approval to coal price pooling and had asked coal and power ministries to work out for a formula. It is reported that the various thermal power plants in the country have been stranded due to scarcity of coal and the decision on coal price pooling will help these plants.    

The decision on price pooling has been pending for long time because of the conflict between the coal and power ministries on how the impact of higher imported coal prices will be shared between state miner Coal India (CIL) and power companies. Earlier, the power ministry after consultation with the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) has suggested the Coal Ministry that the difference in cost of imported and domestic coal should be added to the cost of indigenous fuel at the time of finalising proposal for pooling coal prices.

On the other hand, coal India had said that price pooling was a mechanism to implement fuel supply agreement (FSA) and if price pooling is approved then 15 percent supply of imported coal ‘will be not in the cost plus method, but in pooling mechanism’. Coal India board had earlier approved the modified FSA without price-pooling with 65 percent domestic coal and 15 percent imported coal at cost plus basis. Till now, Around 50 companies have entered into fuel supply pacts with Coal India for receiving the fuel. As per the FSA, Coal India has to provide an assured supply of minimum 80 percent of the total quantity, if failing to which would be penalized.

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