KPCL eyes mine in Indonesia

Karnataka Power Corporation Ltd (KPCL), the state-owned power generator, is exploring the possibility of acquiring a coal mine in Indonesia. The company, which presently imports small quantities of coal from Indonesia, is in the process of reducing its dependency on the Indian coal, which is high in ash content, a top company official said today. On an average, KPCL requires 7.2 million tonnes per annum to generate close to 2,000 MW. The company is adding a further 1400 MW within the next three years.

“Last year, KPCL imported around 900,000 tonnes of coal from Indonesia and this year also the same quantity will be imported to fire our power projects at Raichur and Bellary. The Indonesian coal provides higher calorific value and less in ash content. We are presently mixing the imported coal with the domestic coal and firing our boilers,” S M Jamdar, managing director, KPCL told reporters.

He said KPCL intends to increase the quantity of imported coal over the coming years as it has a higher calorific value, which is more efficient in heating up the boiler. The Indonesian coal contains 6,000 kilo calories per kg of coal, whereas Indian coal has a maximum of 4,500 kilo calories. At present, KPCL’ power plants can take only up to 5 per cent of imported coal.

“We are definitely trying, but there are some difficulties. We already own a coal field in Nagpur, which is giving us 7,000 tonnes of coal every day. We definitely are interested in imported coal. There are some serious problems with the imported coal, he said.

The existing boiler designs of Indian power stations cannot take foreign coal fully. We have to blend it up to 25 per cent. Because boilers are designed according to the heat bearing capacity and foreign coal is extremely good in heat bearing capacity,” he said.

The future thermal power projects will be built in such a way that they will be able to take more quantity of foreign coal, he added.