NEW DELHI: Indian’s largest electricity generator state-run NTPC Limited’s thermal coal imports fell by 42% to 9.47 million mt in the fiscal year 2015-16, which ended March 31, 2016. The company reduced its imported coal consumption by 42.2% during the year to 9.47 million mt, from 16.38 million mt last year, NTPC said in a statement Thursday.
The power generator had targeted importing around 12 million mt for the last fiscal year. Incidentally, the original target was 22 million mt, which was scaled down to 12 million mt due to the weak demand for power and increased availability of domestic coal by state-run Coal India Limited.
An NTPC source said the company might not import any coal in the current fiscal year because of adequate domestic coal supplies from Coal India and also because coal mining activities will begin at its Pakri Barwadih mine in Jharkhand, eastern India this year. NTPC has a total installed capacity of 46,653 MW, of which 39,759 MW constitutes coal-based power.