Coal news and updates

NTPC Bongaigaon coal transport tender hangs fire

April 30: The tender for supply of coal to NTPC’s Bongaigaon thermal power station and other cargoes which are to be moved through IWAI’s Inland Water Transport (IWT) terminal on National Inland Waterway 2 has been finalised but the final award has not taken place, a source informed ICMW.

It may be recalled that in around 2013- 2014, the IWAI had invited expressions of interest (EoI) from interested parties in India and abroad for transportation of imported coal, including supply of coal to NTPC’s Bongaigaon thermal power station and other cargoes which are to be moved through the IWT terminal at Jogighopa on National Inland Waterway 2.

After a prolonged delay, imported coal transport started through the National Waterways 1 (NW1) towards the end of 2013 when NTPC began carrying coal to its Farakka thermal power station. At present, according to the agreement between IWAI, NTPC and the private operator Jindal ITF, 3 million tons per annum of coal are slated to be transported to Farakka, which amounts to almost 10,000 tons of coal per day.

“However, the drawback here is a shortage of vessels. NTPC is carrying this coal with a draft of 2.6-2.7 metre levels, and in small, 1,500-1,600 ton vessels, the source observed. The cargo is trans-shipped onto smaller vessels mid-sea and carried through the river to the Farakka thermal power plant.

NTPC’s Barr and Farakka alone have the potential to carry 8-9 mt per annum via waterways, said the source, adding that if all the state government power plants located along the waterways start transporting their required steam coal via the waterways then, the volumes would be huge.

There is no defined provision for handing over the transportation of cargo to private players but the government does not have any agency for this purpose since the Central Inland Water Transport Corporation (CIWTC) was wound up, added the source.