Shri. R.K. Singh, Union Minister of Power and NRE has reviewed the status of coal imports for integration into the global energy and energy industries. Secretary (Power) Shri Alok Kumar, senior government officials, and Gencos were present at a meeting held yesterday. The Minister highlighted the importance of importing coal for integration into the hydropower industry, taking into account the challenges in domestic coal supply to meet growing demand. Provinces have been advised to place orders for coal exports with a view to mixing them so that more coal can reach the power stations from May 2022 itself. The Hon’ble Minister said domestic coal would be supplied to all GENCOS in proportion to the coal obtained from coal companies.
He also advised governments to increase production from bound mines to meet their coal needs which will help reduce the burden on coal coal. He stressed that states should take steps to ensure the availability of coal in their power stations by ensuring that they come from Rail-cum-Road (RCR) to meet the shortage of coal in their power stations and that in the event that States do not raise RCR coal they will be allocated and given to other States. concerned will address any shortages and related shortages in their respective countries.
As per the details presented by the CEA at the meeting, it was noted that the States of Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra have placed import orders for coal, while Punjab and Gujarat are in the advanced stages of tender completion; and other States must make further efforts to import coal for incorporation into their power plants on time. The provinces of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh are in the process of issuing tenders. Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Odisha and Jharkhand have not yet tender or taken any significant steps to import coal and are advised to take appropriate steps to ensure the availability of coal at their power stations.
The status of the RCR was also discussed and it appeared that the progress of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh in raising coal was not satisfactory. These districts have been advised to hasten the removal of the waste, otherwise the RCR coal will be allocated to the other GENCOS they need.
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