NTPC to invite long-term coal import bids in 3 mths

To meet its rising fuel demand, country's largest power producer NTPC plans to seek bids in next two to three months for long-term supply of imported coal of up to 20 million tonne per annum.

"We will seek bids for supply of imported coal for a period of 15-20 years. The amount will be up to 20 million tonne per year," NTPC CMD Arup Roy Choudhury told reporters here today on the sidelines of a CII conference.

He said bids wills be invited in next two to three months.

According to Choudhury, NTPC needs to securities imported coal, which accounts for about 10% of the company's total requirements.

Recently, severe coal shortages due to multiple factors had hurt power generation at various NTPC plants.

"As of now, our plants are generating the full (power) as demanded from us," he said.

Noting that imported coal would not be the solution for the country due to its cost, he said that domestic coal production needs to be increased.

"The main issue is whether the power we generate is affordable or not," he noted.

State-run NTPC has an installed capacity of over 35,000 MW.