The Indian government said today said it will not increase the notified prices of coal in the current year, giving relief to sectors such as steel and power that are battling high input costs.
"There is no plan to increase the notified prices of coal this year. Instead, we will enhance our production and reduce operational costs," Minister of State for Coal Santosh Bagrodia told journalists on the sidelines of a conference organised by Indian Coal Forum here.
The notified prices of coal sold to firms in power, steel and other sectors varies between an average Rs 600 and 1,600 per tonne, depending on its grade.
Mr Bagrodia said the government is taking steps to augment coal production and also utilise non-mineable deposits that are available in plenty. He said a global tender would be floated shortly to invite potential players for taking up gas-beneficiation of non-mineable deposits of hundreds of tons in the country.
There are also plans for the government to allow open cast mining beyond the depth of 300 metres to extract more coal. On the agenda is to ensure cent per cent washing of coal, which is transported beyond 1,000 km stretch by end of the current plan. Though the minister was confident in achieving the coal production target of 732 million tons (MT) in the current plan, he candidly admitted the government, as of now, does not have a plan to go beyond 600 MT of coal production.
Listing his priority for the sector, he said his top-most agenda is to make India self-sufficient in coal. He informed that e-sale of the fossil fuel is expected to touch 50 MT mark by Friday.
Source: Economic Times, India
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