IMG formed to look into coal linkages of 16,000 MW power plants

The names of the power firms which fall under the 16,000 MW list is not divulged

Following a direction from CCEA, the Coal Ministry has set up an inter-ministerial panel to look into coal linkages of the power plants - having aggregate capacity of 16,000 MW - which are at the advanced stages of commissioning.

The Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) under the chairmanship of Coal Secretary S K Srivastava formed recently will have members from ministries including Power, Steel, Railways and Law, a government official said.

"The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) in a meeting held last month has asked for constitution of the panel to look into coal linkages of the power plants - having an aggregate capacity of 16,000 MW - which are at advance stages of commissioning," the official said.

The panel is likely to meet soon to deliberate on the matter, the official said.

However, he did not divulge the names of the power firms which fall under the 16,000 MW list.

A total of 143 fuel supply pacts are to be signed by Coal India (CIL) till 2014-15 in respect of identified power projects of 60,000 MW capacity, which have been assured for coal supply during 12th Five Year Plan period (2012-17), according to an official document.

Of these, 92 FSAs are to be signed by the month end.

So far, 55 power companies have entered into fuel supply agreement (FSA) with CIL, which accounts for over 80% of the domestic coal production.

CIL board has approved the modified FSA with 65 per cent domestic coal and 15 per cent imported coal.