Look at independent fuel sampling system: CoalMin to CIL

Amid allegations that Coal India is supplying inferior quality fuel to power plants, the Coal Ministry today said it has advised the company to re-look its present fuel sampling mechanism.

The ministry has suggested 'Third Party' sampling of fuel supplied to power stations.
    
"It is presumed that with the introduction of the new system, the disputes and differences between coal supplying companies and power plants would reduce significantly," the Coal Ministry said in a statement.
    
The mechanism for 'Third Party' would be worked out in consultation with the power producers by CIL, it noted.
    
The development comes on the heels of Power Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia pitching for reworking of the current coal sampling procedure, amid power producers expressing unhappiness over the quality of fuel supplied to them.
    
Terming such a system as the "highly appreciable initiation towards consumers' satisfaction," the Coal Ministry said it would also help build confidence of power plants and improve faster payment releases against coal dispatch.
    
The proposed 'Third Party' mechanism would replace joint sampling system at the fuel loading point.
    
"Keeping with the trend of international practices, 'Third Party' sampling by an independent agency would be beneficial for both the seller as well as the purchaser," the statement said.
    
Country's largest power producer NTPC is among the companies that have raised concerns about quality of coal.
    
Recently, NTPC Chairman and Managing Director Arup Roy Choudhury had said that "the quality of coal that we received from Coal India is poor, we have informed the Power Ministry about that".