New Delhi, May 9

With the ongoing coal crunch threatening to disrupt electricity generation, NTPC Ltd — the country’s largest power producer — has widened its search for coal blocks abroad and is looking at options in Mozambique and South Africa. NTPC has already been looking at investing in coal blocks in Indonesia.

“We are looking to secure fuel supplies in order to support our ambitious generation target. We are looking at Indonesia, Mozambique and South Africa,” NTPC’s newly appointed Chairman and Managing Director, Mr R.S. Sharma, said.

NTPC, which needs about 110 million tonnes of coal at its 15 coal-fired stations annually, had imported around 2.5 million tonnes of coal last fiscal.

NTPC has floated a joint venture firm called Coal Ventures International Ltd in partnership with Steel Authority of India Ltd, Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Ltd, Coal India Ltd and National Mineral Development Corporation to secure coal mines abroad.

contd on page 2...