Three imported coal-based (ICB) power plants, with a combined capacity of 3,650 mega watt (MW), will start operations in three weeks and another three in two months with lenders agreeing to support these plants with new credit lines, Union power secretary Alok Kumar told FE. Also, NTPC will soon start running one insolvent ICB unit, which is now before the National Company Law Tribunal, and another one without much delay, the official said, elaborating on the steps taken by the Centre to tide over the power crisis.
Kumar said state governments have been asked to revise tariffs built into the existing power purchase agreements (PPAs) with ICBs given the sharply increased cost of imported coal. He, however, added that the Rs 12/unit cap for power sold on the exchanges is ‘reasonable’, even in view of the higher cost of imported coal.
