The Union Minister for Power and New & Renewable Energy has informed that coal, whether domestic or imported, is procured by Thermal Power Plants separately and as per their requirements. There are some plants based exclusively on imported coal. Thermal Power Plants have been importing coal for blending purpose from 2009 onwards
The gap between daily coal consumption and daily arrival of domestic coal increased from 1.30 lakh tonnes per day to 2.80 lakh tonnes per day between the month of June’ 2023 and September’ 2023. Therefore, Ministry of Power advised central & state Gencos and IPPs on 01.09.2023 and 25.10.2023 to import coal through a transparent competitive procurement process for blending.
Average power purchase cost increased by 71 Paisa only between FY 22 and FY 23. This is because of increase in various costs – including increase in transmission and distribution costs.
This information has been given by the Union Minister for Power and New & Renewable Energy Shri R. K. Singh, in a written reply to a question, in Lok Sabha on December 14, 2023. PIB
