Power woes push up coal imports
Coal imports, which had declined over the last four years, are expected to shoot up, with power plants running short on stocks.Earlier this month, the Union power ministry advised states to consider importing coal for the next 2-3 years to run their power plants.Many states, including Bengal and Maharashtra, run coal-fired electricity units of their own, besides having public sector NTPC and private power producers.Officials said that while coal imports were discouraged over the last few years, the norms would be relaxed as stocks at power plants are running out with little chances of them being fully augmented.Electricity plants have been cutting back on imported coal which they mix with the domestic variety to produce power because of the.....