PSPCL's plea on coal import not admitted by power regulator

Punjab's power regulator PSERC has not admitted the petition of power utility PSPCL which had sought permission for import of 1.2 million tonne of coal, involving "additional financial liability" of Rs 505 crore.
Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission (PSERC) in its order said the petition filed by PSPCL was "not in the manner provided in the stated and applicable law and regulations."
"... The petition is not maintainable and therefore, not admitted," it said in the order.
In its petition, the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) had sought approval regarding import of coal for its thermal power stations.
PSPCL had worked out requirement of imported coal as 1.2 million tonne for a period of one year which would involve "additional financial liability" of Rs 505 crore.

PSPCL had cited short supply of coal by Panem Coal Mines Limited and Monnet Daniels Coal Washeries Limited to its thermal power units in the state.

PSPCL had faced critical coal stock supplies at its three thermal power units --Lehra Mohabbat, Ropar and Bathinda which have combine power generation capacity of 2640 MW.
In the petition, PSPCL had pointed out that the union ministries of power and coal while discussing critical coal stock situation of PSPCL's power units in a meeting held on August 30, had asked Punjab to take up "necessary initiatives for import of coal", so as to augment coal supplies to their thermal stations.

On October 7, when power regulator took up PSPCL's petition for admission, it had observed that the petition did not mention any provision of law or regulations under which the same was maintainable.
Then, PSPCL filed additional submissions on October 22, saying that the issue involved additional cost due to the import of coal, which shall have impact on the generation cost and tariff determination.