Economic Times reported that Country's largest power producer NTPC on Friday called bids seeking supply of two million tonnes of imported coal for eight of its electricity generating stations.

Scope of the contracts include supply of imported steam coal to NTPC at Indian ports, arranging railway rakes and delivery at NTPC station. The company intends to finance the cost, estimated at Rs 100 crore, through own resources.

The company has issues a tender seeking supply of 1.1 million tonnes of imported coal for its projects at Farakka in West Bengal and Kahalgaon in Bihar. Another 0.9 million tonnes will be used at the company' plants at Dadri, Singrauli, Tanda, Unchahar and Rihand in Uttar Pradesh and Vindhayachal in Madhya Pradesh.

The state-run firm had last month scrapped a bulk tender of about INR 350 crore to import five million tonnes of coal for which at least three companies including MMTC Ltd and Adani Enterprises were in fray.

The company scrapped the tender after receiving higher than expected bids and decided to call small tendersfor different projects.

NTPC on June 15 invited bids for supply of 0.9 million tonnes imported coal for its Simhadri and Ramagundam projects in Andhra Pradesh.

NTPC plans to increase coal imports to 16 million tonnes this fiscal due to local shortage. The company imported over 12 million tonnes last financial year. NTPCmeets about 15% of its needs through imported coal and most of its 38,000-mw capacity is coal based.

Shortage in domestic fuel supply and distribution companies' inability to purchase power has been affecting NTPC's productivity. Itexpects this year's coal needs to go up by about 15.5% to 164 million tonnes as it targets an addition of 4000-mw of fresh capacity, compared with an addition of 2800-mw last year.

Source - Economic Times

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