Coal news and updates

Supply-hit power cos tap Indonesian miners for coal

As coal stocks nearing an all-time low, some of the state power utilities along with some non-power coal users have sent SOS to Indonesian coal miners for import of coal. Sources in the power industry said that some power plants only have around four days’ stock, which is critical.

Indonesian companies like Universal Success Energy, Adaro, Bumi are being approached by the Indian power majors for the import of coal.

When contacted, the chairman of USE, NRI industrialist Prasoon Mukherjee, said that he is getting requests almost every day from Indian companies and state power utilities. The USE has coal reserves in Indonesia. “We have over one billion tonnes of reserves. A lot of companies are now looking at Indonesian options,” he added.

Mukherjee argued the coal crisis also pointed to the need for developing imported coal-based plants in coastal areas. “We had given a proposal in this regard long back but it was considered to be expensive at that time,” he added.