Plants running on imported coal may see tech upgrade to use local fuel

CEA assessing feasibility; plant conversion to require major investments

- ARUNIMA BHARADWAJ

In a move to reduce import dependency, the power ministry is exploring whether imported coal-based power plants can use a certain amount of domestic fuel also.

Currently, as many as 17 power-generation units, with a combined capacity of 17.97 gigawatt (GW), operate on imported coal and play a significant role during peak summer seasons in tackling power shortages.

The ministry, according to official sources, is getting a feasibility study done on whether these power plants can use a certain amount of local coal and still run efficiently.

The hybrid model will require capital investments, but an estimate of this could be made only after a technical assessment, which will be part of the feasibility study.

"The ministry has assigned this task (exploring feasibility) to the Central Electricity Authority (CEA), and the work has already started," an official said, highlighting that while imported-coal-based plants can consume domestic coal up to certain levels, the entire engine of the power plant cannot be run by domestic coal.