(ET)
State-owned power plants imported around 12 million tonne of coal during 2016-17, less than a quarter of the volume imported in the previous fiscal and far less than the anticipated 25 million tonne expected during the year.
This year, it is expected to turn zero as these companies have decided to stop imports. According to figures compiled by the Central Electricity Authority, the state sector power companies imported around 7 million tonne during 2016-17while the central sector generators imported around 5 million tonne.
“It was the effect of adequate availability of coal from Coal India and the government’s thrust on reducing import dependency,” said an analyst.
