Coal ministry panel approves supply to upcoming power projects with 3300 MW capacity

A standing committee of the coal ministry has recommended coal linkages to state-run power plants with a cumulative capacity of 3,300 megawatt (MW) in Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh. Maharashtra had sought 3.18 million tonne (MT) of coal per annum for an upcoming 660 MW unit of the Bhusawal power plant. The linkage committee, based on the Union power ministry’s recommendation, has sanctioned fuel supply to this unit which is expected to be commissioned in FY22.

The committee also recommended bridge linkage to a 660 MW unit of Tamil Nadu’s state-owned Ennore SEZ super-critical thermal power project. However, the quantity of coal to be supplied would be sufficient for only half the unit’s capacity as its boiler is designed to run on an equal blend of domestic and imported coal.