The Power Ministry has enhanced the coal imports target of electricity generation units by about 15 per cent to 28.7 million tonnes in 2009-10 to ensure that the utilities do not reel under any dry fuel shortage.
As per the earlier target set by the Ministry, the power firms, including NTPC, were supposed to import 25 million tonnes of coal next fiscal, a senior government official said.
"In view of the anticipated availability of 312 million tonnes of coal from Coal India for power utilities in 2009-10, import target of power firms has been enhanced from 25 million tonnes to 28.7 million tonnes," the official said.
As the calorific value of imported coal is high, the 28.7 million tonnes dry fuel shipped from overseas would be equivalent to about 43 million tonnes of the domestic coal.
In 2008-09, Coal India would supply 292 million tonnes of coal to power companies. Next fiscal, however, the earmarked quantity would increase to 312 million tonnes.
"In incremental terms, we would be providing 20 million tonnes of additional coal to power utilities next fiscal as compared to the current financial year," Coal India Chairman Partha S Bhattacharyya told PTI.
As per the data released by Central Electricity Authority, the power planning body, 37 thermal power plants, out of total 77 units in India, are running on coal stocks availability of less than seven days.