The difference in the lead distance is thus very nominal and in view of the astronomical prices quoted by suppliers of coal from overseas coal sources, coal from Pachhwara captive coal mine would be much cheaper compared to imported coal any day. According to PSPCL sources (https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/chandigarh-news/after-8-years-pspcl-to-get-coal-from-its-mine-in-pachwara-101670944627363.html), “last year PSPCL spent ₹520 cr on import of four lakh tons of imported coal. Apparently, the MOP’s directions are openly discriminating against the CPSEs to benefit private suppliers of overseas coal and private promoters of Gujarat ports. In other words, the prevailing man-made coal crisis and the continuing insistence by the MOP that State power generation companies should buy imported coal at over-invoiced prices has adversely affected almost all State power generation companies, as illustrated by the latest PSPCL case. In the specific case of PSPCL, the State power company should have the freedom to obtain coal from whichever source it prefers.

Source: Hindustan Times November 29, 2023 06:31 UTC