Coal Ministry may go revamping the National Coal Distribution Policy

08 Jun 2011 Evaluate

India ranks 3rd in production of coal, however, it is unable to satisfy the growing requirement of core and non-core companies which has widened the demand-supply gap and compelled the ministry to re-shape the three years old National Coal Distribution Policy and if things goes as per Coal Ministry wishes, then soon a new distribution policy would be in place to serve the comprehensive coal linkage needs of core and non-core sectors by introducing adequate flexibility in coal supply to meet the growing demands of these sectors and promote energy security.

India imports coal from Australia but still the need of the public and private sector companies remain un-fulfilled. The Power Ministry has announced 12 companies that will receive coal for their newly-commissioned power projects with combined capacity of 12,200 MW - NTPC, Reliance Power and Lanco Infratech are amongst them.

“Due to ever-growing demand of the mineral from the power sector, it has virtually become impossible to provide additional coal to other sectors. Due to the negative balance of coal, the Standing Committee on Linkage for steel and cement could not be convened for the past three years” said coal minister Sriprakash Jaiswal. The ministry, soon, will be introducing new policy to serve the companies growing requirements with flexibility and promote energy security. It also aims to amend the term from FSA and bring down the 90% coal supply to 50%. This move will be a matter of concern for the state-owned power producers, however, it will help their counterparts in private sector.

 As per current National Coal Distribution Policy, the 100% requirement of defence and railway sector to be met at a notified price by coal companies thereby meeting 75 per cent of the quantity of normative requirements of other linked consumers through Fuel Supply Agreements (FSAs). The new policy will set a uniform coal price for captive and independent power plants in the country. Meanwhile a Group of Ministers (GoM) on Coal is likely to meet for the third time on Thursday to try and resolve issues hurting the production of coal in the country amid an ever-widening demand and supply gap, which is expected to reach 137 million tonnes in 2011-12.

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