Tata Power said it has received coal from KPC / Arutmin mines, Indonesia, for its 4,000-MW Ultra Mega Power Project at Mundra.
The super-critical technology-based power plant requires imported coal.
Ahead of schedule
The first unit of 800-MW plant is ready, ahead of its scheduled date in mid-September. However, Power Grid is in the process of commissioning the transmission lines which were delayed due to forest clearances.
Further, recent Indonesian regulations on export of coal from that country stipulate that prices need to be benchmarked to international prices or market rates. While initial reports suggested that market prices should be followed from September 23, sources said Jakarta had given six months for all mining and exploration companies to adhere to its new norms.
The shipment, by a cape size vessel owned by its Singapore subsidiary, Trust Energy Resources, anchored at the Mundra port on Wednesday. The 181,000 DWT (dead weight tonnage) cape vessel delivered by STX Shipyard, Korea, was on its maiden voyage.
Mr Anil Sardana, Managing Director, Tata Power, said, “This is a significant moment for us and is aligned to our strategy of being an integrated power player. With this objective in mind, Trust Energy was set up to securitise coal supply and shipping of coal for our thermal projects.”
Tata Power said the arrival of coal at Mundra marked a new trend in India of transporting and receiving coal in large tonnage of up to 1,80,000 tonnes for captive consumption.