Coal utility: Chaturvedi panel to submit report by October-end

New Delhi: A panel headed by BK Chaturvedi to look into the possibility of utilisation of surplus coal from captive mines by power utilities, will submit its report to the coal ministry by the end of this month.

"We will submit the report by the end of this month," BK Chaturvedi told reporters in New Delhi.

Ensuring maximum utility of coal. Getty Images

The panel is looking at utilising surplus coal by creating a bank or a common pool that will supply the fuel to the utilities.

"Coal India is also a member of the committee and will be consulted before finalising the report," he said, replying to the question of CIL's reservations on the proposed coal banking policy.

"When we submit the report, we will finalise it together with them," he added.

Coal imports by Indian companies had touched a record of 137.56 million tonne last fiscal to meet the shortfall, despite meeting the 97 percent domestic supply target at 557.70 million tonnes.

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The fuel was mainly sourced by imports from countries such as Indonesia, South Africa and Australia.

Power companies have set a target of 82 million tonne for coal import during the current financial year (2013-14).

Coal India, which accounts for 81 percent of the country's coal production, missed its target of 464 MT last fiscal. It had produced 452.2 MT.

The estimated coal production through CIL sources during the current fiscal is 492 MT. Out of this, 379 is earmarked for the power sector.

PTI