Panel to review coal linkages to power sector next week

An inter-ministerial panel will meet next week to review the status of existing coal linkages with the power sector amid government aiming to provide round- the-clock affordable electricity to all across the country.
"Meeting of the Standing Linkage Committee (Long-Term) for power/sponge/cement sectors to review the status of existing coal linkages/LoAs and other related matters to be held on 27th January, 2016," the Coal Ministry said in a notice.
The government is also considering a policy with regard to auction of linkages of state-owned Coal India which accounts for over 80 per cent of the domestic coal production.
The Coal Ministry earlier said that an in-principle decision has already been taken that the future linkages to non-regulated sector shall be granted through a transparent process of competitive bidding through auction route.

An inter-ministerial committee has already been set up in January for considering various models, including auctioning of coal linkages/LoAs (Letter of Assurances) through competitive bidding as the selection process and to recommend the optimal structure that would meet the requirements of all the stakeholders.
Till now, Standing Linkage Committee has been deciding on allocation of long-term and short-term linkages for the sectors, including power and steel.
The government had earlier said to provide round-the- clock electricity to all by 2019.