Coal Ministry Asks Power Ministry To Reconsider Fuel Import Plan

The Coal Ministry has asked the Power Ministry to review the fuel import plan, citing a mismatch between the import target for FY15 and capacity addition envisaged over the same period. The fuel import target for this fiscal is 94 million tonnes. Nearly 50% thermal power stations in India have coal stock for less than even a week.

"It is our assessment that the target set for import for 2014-15 is not commensurate with the capacity addition envisaged for 2014-15. The shortfall in the import plant of CEA (Central Electricity Authority) has a bearing on the present crisis of coal stock at power stations," Coal Secretary S K Srivastava said in a letter to Power Secretary Pradeep Kumar Sinha.

"It would be therefore, be desirable for MOP (Ministry of Power) to review the entire import plan of CEA to take contingency decision, if any, to avert shortfalls in coal stocks with the power plants," the letter said.

The letter further stated that CEA plans to import 94 million tonnes (MT) for the current financial year.