NTPC units faced coal shortage in FY17-19; CERC denies relief

Company blames Coal India and Centre's no-import policy

NTPC, the country's largest power generator, has said many of its units faced a coal shortage in the past two financial years, owing to low production and the Centre’s restriction on importing it.

In a recent petition to the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC), it said this led to slippage in power availability at four of its units, leading to less payment from states. CERC denied any relief to NTPC, saying power purchasers should not pay for the generator's fuel supply risk. The order, though, has spotlit the coal shortage issue, on since 2016. 

NTPC petitioned CERC for relief on the Normative