India blames coal firms for shortage

NEW DELHI, June 11 (UPI) -- India's Coal Ministry has blamed state-run thermal power companies for a coal shortage as they are unable to off take coal.

The ministry said the thermal power utilities are to be blamed for their coal shortage, as they are unable to off take coal kept by coal companies to meet their production needs. It has asked them to lift their allocated coal to avoid reaching critical coal stock position.

"We have 47 million tons of coal ready for the power companies. It is they who should be willing to off take it for their use. We cannot be blamed for their inability to do the same. My ministry is determined to provide them the needed quantity of coal for their assured production," Coal Minister Santosh Bagrodia said.

The minister said he had invited the power companies to off take 15 million tons of coal from the pitheads of the coal companies in May, but they took barely 5 million tons, which clearly indicates that they are unable to lift their share of coal.

The ministry had asked the power companies to ensure a coal stock of at least 21 days for meeting any exigency, but their current coal stock is barely enough for seven days.