Sixty-nine power plants yet to sign fuel supply pacts with Coal India

The Coal Ministry has informed the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) that of the 69 power plants which are yet to enter into fuel supply pacts with state-run Coal India (CIL), 29 cases belong to NTPC and its joint ventures.

The power plants of NTPC and its joint ventures (JV) which have not signed FSAs include Dadri, Korba, Farakka, Simhadri, Bhilai JV and Sipat.

Though these power plants of the power PSU have not signed pacts with CIL, most of them are drawing coal under MoU (Memorandum of Understanding), the ministry said.

"There are 131 cases of power plants/units which are... for signing of FSAs (Fuel Supply Agreements) by CIL (Coal India) and its subsidiaries. Out of these 131 cases... FSAs for 62 cases have already been executed... Out of 69 cases, 29 cases belong to NTPC and its JVs," the Coal Ministry has informed the PMO.

The power firms, including NTPC, had earlier this year failed to meet the second deadline set by the PMO for signing FSAs.

Principal Secretary to the prime minister, Pulok Chatterjee, had in December last year directed that the remaining FSAs should be signed within a month's time. The PMO's directive in December 2012 came after its November 2012 deadline for signing of FSAs was missed.

Earlier, the government issued a Presidential Directive to CIL to sign FSAs with the power producers assuring them of at least 80 per cent of the committed coal delivery.

NTPC has not entered into FSA with CIL as it had raised concerns about quality of coal being supplied to its power plants.

With inputs from PTI