After repeated complaints from public sector power producer NTPC that Coal India was supplying low quality fuel, the Coal Ministry on Wednesday gave its nod for putting in place a ‘third party’ sampling and analysis system for coal dispatched to power stations.
The Coal Ministry said in a statement that it has advised Coal India to consider extending this facility at the loading end.
On November 20, Minister of Power for State Jyotiraditya Scindia said the Power Ministry wants Coal India to take a relook at the coal sampling mechanism. “The Ministry is in talks with the Coal Ministry on the issue,” Scindia had said.
At present, the coal sampling provision provides for a joint sampling mechanism at the loading end. However, many power producers have been urging that this mechanism was not sufficient to ensure true analysis. In keeping with international practice, ‘third party’ sampling by an independent agency would be beneficial for both the seller and the purchaser, the Coal Ministry said in its statement.
The nodal Ministry expects that following the introduction of the new system, disputes and differences between the coal supplying companies and power plants would reduce significantly.
Earlier, NTPC Chairman and Managing Director, Arup Roy Choudhary, said nearly three-four units of the power producer were getting coal that was below the specified standards.