New Delhi: Facing shortage in domestic fuel supplies, state-owned NTPC plans to import 17 million metric tonnes of coal this fiscal which is higher than the quantity purchased last financial year.
The country's largest power producer plans to add 1,798 MW generation in the current financial year ending March 2015.
NTPC Chairman and Managing Director Arup Roy Choudhury Wednesday said the total coal requirement is estimated to be 177 MMT for this fiscal.
"Out of this 147 MMT is expected against coal supply agreements and 3 MMT through bilateral MOU/E-auction. The gap of 27 MMT domestic coal is to be mitigated through 17 MMT of imported coal," he said while addressing the annual general meeting.
During 2013-14 period, NTPC consumed 158.57 MMT of coal, with imports accounting for 10.39 MMT.
Currently, the utility has an installed capacity of 43,128 MW. Last fiscal, NTPC added a generation capacity of 1,835 MW.
"Ten coal blocks have been awarded to your company having geological reserves of around 5 billion tonnes and production potential of 100 MTPA (Million Tonnes Per Annum), which can cater to substantial requirement of your company's generation capacity.
"Your company is making best efforts to extract these reserves as soon as possible to augment generation," Choudhury said.
