The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : New coal projects to get Centre’s nod

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Sunday, May 18, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

New coal projects to get Centre’s nod

Special Correspondent

Out of 182 blocks in private sector, 17 operational
CIL to offer 45 million tonnes through e-auctions

HYDERABAD: The Union Cabinet is likely to accord approval for the new projects proposed by the Coal Ministry in a month’s time.

Union Minister of State for Coal Santosh Bagrodia stated at a press conference here on Saturday that the Ministry wanted the country to be self-sufficient in coal production. He said his Ministry had doubled the target of coal production by 12 per cent to 525 million tonnes. Out of the 182 coal blocks given to private parties in the country, 17 had become operational. The Government did not want coal imports to exceed 50 million tonnes by the end of the 11th Five-Year Plan (2011), while the current imports were pegged at 42 million tonnes. There was no shortage of coal to the power sector. Several manufacturing units were storing coal stocks sufficient only for seven days against the stipulated 21 days “for reasons best known to them.”

NCCC revamp

Mr. Bagrodia said that the Ministry would rejuvenate the National Coal Consumer Councils to ensure greater transparency . Coal supply through e-auction would be increased to bring down the coal prices .

Thus, Coal India Ltd would offer 45 million tonnes of coals through e-auctions between May-July as against the 38 million tonnes planned originally.

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