The fuel supply agreement (FSAs) between Coal India and power producers should be signed at 80 per cent from the first year.
The Power Secretary has assured the States' Power Ministers on this issue on Tuesday.
The Planning Commission discussed 12th Plan strategies for the sector with the States today. The Power Secretary, Mr P. Uma Shankar, told newspersons, "We are trying to see that FSAs are signed at trigger level of 80 per cent right from the first year."
Responding to the Power Secretary's statement, the Coal Secretary, Mr S.K. Srivastava, said, "We will leave it to Coal India to take the final decision. We will apprise them of all discussions. We are trying to take all measures to ensure coal supply and targeting 8.05 per cent growth rate in the 12th Plan for coal production." The Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission, Mr Montek Singh Ahluwalia, indicated that price-pooling is one of the solutions to address coal supply issues in the country.