Telangana’s K Chandrasekhar Rao government has decided against implementing the Union power ministry directive to import 10% of its coal requirement for thermal power stations, saying it was not financially viable for the state, people aware of the matter said.
A senior official in Telangana’s energy department said the state government’s decision has been conveyed to the central government in a letter last week. Special chief secretary (energy) Sunil Sharma wrote to the Centre making it clear that Telangana will not go in for import of coal from foreign suppliers as it was financially and practically not viable for the state, the official said.
“The cost of imported coal at present is anywhere about US $ 140-150 ( ₹10,800) per tonne. In fact, it was more than $200 dollars per tonne three months ago. This is going to be a huge burden on the state,” the official said.
