NTPC Ltd will place work orders to import 7 million tons of
additional coal in January. This will take the total imported fuel by the power
producer to 16.4 million tons in the current financial year.
“We are likely to place orders for the balance 7 million tons
of coal in January,” said a senior official from NTPC. Earlier this fiscal, NTPC placed order for the import of nearly 9 million tons of coal. The
additional supplies are expected to start this month. In 2011-12, the public
sector company imported 12 million tons of coal.
NTPC will procure about 7 million tons of coal 'For Power
Station Basis.' The concept means the supplier would be responsible for timely
supply of coal, and payment would be made based on quality and quantity of coal
received at the power plant. The supplier would be selected through bidding.
However, NTPC is not hit by expensive imported fuel. “As far
as costing goes, every 10 % of imported coal leads to 10-15 paise
increase in cost of electricity,” the official said.
NTPC passes the increase in fuel cost to its buyers -the
State Electricity Distribution Companies (discoms). “This (passing of increase
in cost) is as according to NTPC's business model based on Centre for
Environmental Research and Consultancy (CERC) tariff,” the official added. The
power producer requires 164 million tons of coal in 2012-13 to fire its thermal
power stations.
“We import nearly 10 % of our requirement. Imported coal due
to its good quality equals more than domestic coal,” the official further added.
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