With overseas shipments becoming increasingly necessary to meet the burgeoning power demand in the country, centralised import for all electricity utilities by the coal ministry should be done as it would bring efficiencies and reduce cost, sources said.
Two sources with knowledge of the matter said a view emerging in the power ministry is that the coal ministry should take the complete responsibility of imports of the dry fuel to tide over the shortage.
Power generating companies can give their monthly requirement to the coal ministry, which in turn can direct Coal India to become the nodal agency for all imports, they said.
