Coal import target to be raised to 15% for power generating plants

On Wednesday, the power ministry told the media that it would increase the coal import target to 15% for power generating plants that were not obeying its directive to meet 10% of their fuel needs with imported coal. The ministry's notice came even as Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot alleged that the Centre was forcing states to buy imported coal, which costs three times the fuel generated in the country, for blending. He urged the central government to remove the requirement of buying imported coal. Rajasthan may have to bear a burden of Rs 1,736 crores if it buys imported coal. Meanwhile, the All India Power Engineers Federation said since the coal crisis was not the fault of state power generating houses, the Centre should bear the extra price. On Wednesday, the power ministry told the media that the orders for the coal import for blending were not placed by electricity generation companies by this month's end. If the imported coal for blending did not start coming to power plants by June 15, then the defaulters would have to import 15% of coal needed up to October 31. Not much blending has taken place in April and May, the power plants will assure that they blend coal at the rate of 15% up to October 2022. Image Source Also read: India's coal production increases 29% to 66.58 mt in April 2022