The Centre has directed all power generating companies to import four per cent coal by March 2024 to ensure the commodity’s adequate availability in view of an increasing power demand in the country, people aware of the development said.
Uttar Pradesh has been resisting the Centre’s directions for a year, arguing that the purchase of the expensive foreign coal will make power production costlier, which, in turn, might result in a higher tariff for the end users.
“Yet again, we have received the Centre’s instructions to import coal,” said a senior energy department official, adding, “We will soon refer the issue to the state government.”
