Government asks power producers to increase coal imports

The Government has advised power utilities to increase coal imports to meet fuel shortages and those that have fuel supply pacts with CIL to lift coal under "as is where is" scheme by arranging their own logistics."In order to ensure adequate availability of coal, Coal India Ltd (CIL) has been impressed upon to enhance production of domestic coal in the country and power utilities have also been advised to enhance import of coal," Coal and Power Minister Piyush Goyal said. Further, CIL has offered all power producers drawing coal under Fuel Supply Agreements (FSAs), to lift the coal on "as is where is" basis with the stipulation that they will make their own evacuation arrangements. This scheme, earlier implemented by the coal companies, has been extended for 2014-15 also, Goyal said.