Coal news and updates

No plan to hike coal supplies under tapering linkages: CIL

August 11: Claiming that it had no authority to decide which power plant would get how much coal, a senior official from Coal India Ltd (CIL), on August 11, said the company has no plans, as of now, to increase supplies under tapering linkages.

Asked to comment on recent reports that the government wants CIL to supply coal to even those consumers who have FSAs for only one year, a senior company official told ICMW: “As per the Presidential Directive, issued in 2012, we have to first meet the demand for 60,000 MW of additional generation capacity. Only then, the question of supplying the additional coal to such FSA-holders comes into the picture.”

“We are, at present, working to achieve supplies for 60,000 MW. We have not yet reached that 60,000-MW level. Once we reach that level, we will again approach the government, seeking further directives,” the official told ICMW.

“In any case, we do not decide who will get coal or who will not. It is the prerogative of the government – the power ministry and the Central Electricity Authority (CEA). Once we achieve the 60,000-MW target already given as per the Presidential Directive, we will go to the ministry seeking fresh direction,” the official added.