The coal stock at thermal power plants (TPPs) in India has increased to 38.9 million tons (MT) (equivalent to 27 days’ requirement) as on March 31, 2016 from 26.1 million tons year-on-year basis, said Piyush Goyal, Minister of State for Power, Coal, New and Renewable Energy and Mines in Rajya Sabha on Monday. He also said, at present there is no shortage of coal in the country.
Replying to a question about imported coal, Goyal said, with regard to the import by Coal India Limited (CIL), under the provisions of new fuel supply agreements in accordance to the presidential directives issued to CIL, option is given to power utility sector consumers to opt for supply of a part of the annual contracted quantity (ACQ) from imported coal through CIL (viz. 15% of ACQ up to 2014-15, 13% of ACQ in 2015-16 and 5% of ACQ from 2016-17 onwards).
Informing the house about coal mines allocation, Goyal noted that till now, 83 coal mines have been allocated to private and public sector under the provisions of the Coal Mines (special provisions) Act 2015. So far, a revenue of Rs 2779.36 crore has already been generated from these allocated 83 coal mines and is being transferred to the respective state governments where the coal mines are located.