Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Australian coal for State

HYDERABAD:The State government has placed orders with firms in Indonesia and Australia to import one million tonnes of coal this year to supplement the existing coal stocks for thermal power stations.

Announcing this at a press conference here on Wednesday, Energy and Coal Minister Mohd. Ali Shabbir said it was decided to go in for imports as coal from Singareni and Mahanadi was not reaching thermal stations in sufficient quantity due to rains and non-availability of rakes.

Coal in these mines absorbed water. The wet coal hampered loading/unloading operations and turned out to be a problem for boilers in thermal stations. As a result, there was an artificial scarcity. Ajay Jain, Managing Director of AP Genco, and K. Vijayanand, JMD of AP Transco, who were present, added that the fist shipment of coal from Indonesia and Australia was expected to reach the State in two months.

Referring to the charge levelled by Telugu Desam leaders, Mr Shabbir said the Congress election manifesto had promised only “free power” to agriculture sector and not supply for nine hours. He said the Rajasekhara Reddy government continued with seven-hour supply which, indeed, was implemented by the Telugu Desam regime.

The Minister said power cuts would be lifted once hydel stations like Srisailam resumed generation.

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