(a) whether placing of coal under Open General Licence (OGL) under the current
import policy by the Government has led to increase of coal imports by various
power companies;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether there is any evidence of cartelisation amongst international coal
producers seeking to exploit the current situation;
(d) if so, the details thereof; and
(e) the corrective action taken by the Government in this regard?
MINISTER OF COAL (SHRI SRIPRAKASH JAISWAL)
(a)to(e): A statement is laid on the table of the House.
STATEMENT AS MENTIONED IN ANSWER TO STARRED QUESTION No. 247 FOR ANSWER ON 27.08.2013 ASKED
BY SHRI SUVENDU ADHIKARI AND SHRI SUSHIL KUMAR SINGH REGARDING IMPORT OF COAL.
(a) & (b) At present, there is a gap between domestic demand and supply of coal. Accordingly,
coal is being imported by various consumers, which goes to augment the supply of coal from
domestic sources.
The gap between indigenous production of coal and domestic demand is likely to persist through
the 12th Plan period and imports would be needed to bridge the gap.
As such, the import of coal is under Open General License (OGL). Consumers, including power
companies, are free to import coal from the source of their choice as per their contracted price.
(c) to (e) No information is available or representation has been received with regard to any
cartelization among international coal producers.