APGenco to import 2 lakh tonne of coal

State-owned Andhra Pradesh Power Generation Corporation (APGenco) is planning to import 2 lakh tonnes of coal during the current financial year owing to the Government of India's directions to power utilities on account of acute coal shortage being faced by the country.

APGenco's decision is viewed more as a symbol of compliance with the broad guidelines issued by the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) as its total annual coal requirement is 16 million tonnes. The power utility has a 2,972-mw installed capacity in thermal power generation.

Genco officials said that the import volume for the year has been determined on the basis of internal assessment of supply-demand gap. With Singareni Collieries (SCCL) being controlled by the Andhra Pradesh government, most of its production is utilised in the state, especially in the power generation.

Moreover, coal consumption by APGenco is expected to come down this year as its thermal generation is expected to decrease by 2000-3000 million units on account of additional hydro power generation. "We have been able to ensure better coal supplies to other industries due to reduced coal consumption by the thermal power stations from July 2005," an SCCL official told Business Standard.

APGenco's installed hydel capacity (3,588 mw) is more than its thermal installed capacity. For the first time in recent past, the hydel generation in the state touched about 3,000 mw this year with Srisailam and Nagarujunasagar receiving heavy inflows from the upper catchment in Karnataka.