(a) the total number of electricity generation plants in the country which generate electricity using coal;
(b) whether coal produced in the country is of poor quality or inadequate leading to import of coal from abroad and if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether imported coal generates more electricity than domestic coal;
(d) if so, the details thereof; and
(e) the reasons for encouraging the imported coal in place of domestic coal for electricity generation?
THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR POWER,
COAL, NEW & RENEWABLE ENERGY AND MINES
( SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL )
(a) : The total number of coal based electricity generation plants in the country is 192.
(b) : Domestic coal supplied to power plants is of different grades with various calorific values. Coal is being imported to meet the requirement of the power plants designed on the basis of imported coal. Further, there is adequate domestic coal supply to the power stations in the country.
(c) & (d) : The quantum of electricity generated from coal based thermal power plant depends upon the Station Heat Rate (SHR) (kCal/kWh) of the plant and the Gross Calorific Value (GCV) (kCal/kg) of coal being used. Thus for the same quantum of coal used in any plant, coal having higher GCV would produce more electricity compared to coal with lower GCV.
(e) : The Government does not encourage import of coal for power stations. Some of the power producers have set up plants, especially in coastal areas, for using imported coal.
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