Policy on auction of coal linkages to power sector in 2-3 mths

Policy on auctioning of coal linkages to the power sector is likely to be finalised in 2-3 months, government said today.
"It (the proposed policy on auction of coal linkages to power sector) will take two to three months," Coal and Power Minister Piyush Goyal told reporters here after the launch of a portal on coal allocation and monitoring system for small and medium sector consumers.
"We are working jointly, between Power (Ministry) and Coal (Ministry) to make robust policy that will be most transparent, that will be most fair for all consumers, that will bring in greater degree of affordibility to the consumers of India for the power sector and that will ensure that everybody has equal opportunity to participate," he said.

Last month, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs had approved allocation of coal linkages for non-regulated sector only through auction.
Stating that the process of giving coal linkages was not fully transparent, Piyush Goyal had last month said that there were many complaints about the whole process.
State-controlled Coal India Ltd and Singareni Collieries Company Ltd (SCCL) will put up a quarter of its production for auction to non-power companies.

On the Sasan ultra mega power project getting government nod to produce 17.20 MTPA coal from Moher & Moher Amlohri extension mines, Goyal said the Coal Ministry has allowed for additional mining of 1.2 MT with certain conditions, particularly related to the fact that the coal be used by UMPP only and not be diverted for any other purpose.

"Based on the request of several procurers or states which are benifitting from this low-cost power and on the report of CEA under the direction of Honorable High Court to take a decision in a fair manner the department has taken a view," to permit to allow Sasan Power Ltd (SPL) to raise coal output, he said.
On the government cancelling the gas subsidy auction, the minister said in the 3rd round when the bidding took place the bidders came down to zero which means they were ready to accept the gas without any subsidy.
"We had to obviously abort that auction because its very difficult to choose between all those bidders who are bidding zero therefore we have now come up with a revised formula...There is an Empowered Committee to work out such details.