NTPC to float global tender for coal import soon

New Delhi, Apr 10 (UNI) National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC), the country's largest power producer, today said it is going to float a global tender to import five million tonnes of coal shortly, as it generates power mostly by using coal.

The state-run firm also said it will double its coal imports to five million tonnes in the current fiscal (2008-09) from 2.5 million tonnes a year ago.

''We will soon float a global tender to import 5 million tonnes of coal,'' NTPC CMD T Sankaralingam said here.

He said the company plans to become a 50,000 MW firm by 2012 and a 75,000-MW firm by 2017.

At present, the firm has a generation capacity of 29,144 MW, including 1,794 MW from its joint ventures.

NTPC will require 140 million tonnes of coal this year, as compared to 124 million tonnes last year, Mr Sankaralingam said.

India has set a target of generating 80,000 MW power by the end of the 11th Five Year Plan.

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