Private power producers are queuing up to sign fuel supply pacts with Coal India Ltd despite criticism that the agreements are skewed in favour of the coal major. The Kolkata-based CESC Ltd is the latest to join the fray.
According to a CIL official, CESC signed a fuel supply agreement with Bharat Coking Coal Ltd, a Coal India subsidiary, and is awaiting response from Eastern Coalfields, another Coal India unit. The two agreements will assure coal supply to the company's 250 MW unit at Budge Budge in West Bengal.
Earlier, the Reliance Power-controlled Rosa Power in Uttar Pradesh signed a fuel supply deal for three units of 300 MW each. Lanco signed agreements with the Singrauli-headquartered Northern Coalfields Ltd (NCL) for its 2 X 600 MW Anpara thermal power station, also in Uttar Pradesh.
Bajaj Energy, a relatively smaller private player, has also signed a deal with the Ranchi-headquartered Central Coalfields Ltd for its 4 X 45 MW power plant in UP.
Adani Power is the only major private power producer that has yet to enter into a fuel supply pact with Coal India. The Ahmedabad-based company is reportedly in need of coal supply for 3-4 units.
In the public sector, NTPC is still negotiating the terms of the agreement with Coal India. The company, however, gets assured supply from Coal India through existing agreements.
pratim@thehindu.co.in