India has extended the mandate on imported coal-based power plants to operate till June 2024, citing inadequate domestic coal availability, according to a government order reviewed by Reuters.
The order issued using an emergency clause mandates power plants based on imported coal to operate to meet the country’s high electricity demand. The order was issued in February this year and has been extended four times since.
Last month, the Centre extended the mandatory blending of domestic coal with imported coal for the entire ongoing fiscal.
As per an order on September 1, the power ministry extended the mandate to generating companies for blending imported coal in thermal power plants till March 2024 instead of September 2023.