 "A goods train loaded with coal")
State-owned NTPC has achieved savings of approximately 30 paise per unit – approximately Rs 550 crore per month – on account of coal rationalisation and reduction in imports of fossil fuel, Parliament was informed on Monday.
"NTPC has achieved saving of approximately 30 paise per unit (approximately Rs 550 crore/month) due to rationalisation of coal linkage and reduction of imports," Power and Coal Minister Piyush Goyal informed the Rajya Sabha.
Further, due to various efficiency measures, including reduction in grade slippage, specific coal consumption (coal consumed per unit) in the first quarter of 2016-17 has come down by 2.9% as against the same quarter in the previous fiscal, the minister said.
The minister further said the government has taken various measures in order to ensure synergy between power and coal sectors.
The coal availability, he said, is regularly monitored at the highest level, resulting in increased supply of domestic coal. The blocks have been allotted to certain power utilities to improve domestic coal availability and 100% crushed coal is supplied from Coal India.
Coal India, he said, will supply 100% washed coal of G10 grade and above from October 1, 2018, according to environment ministry guidelines.
"The amount of coal imported during 2013-14, 2014-15 and 2015-16 was 166.86 mt (million tonnes), 217.78 mt and 199.88 mt (provisional), respectively," he said.
