Howrah News Service -  Latest news and headlines on Howrah,West Bengal and World: NTPC eyes coal mines

NTPC eyes coal mines
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newsbyte on 09 May, 2008 05:15:20
 
New Delhi, May 9: NTPC Ltd is looking at acquiring coal blocks in Indonesia,
Mozambique and South Africa to bridge the fuel supply shortfall from domestic
sources.
"We have ambitious capacity addition targets and the priority for me is to
secure fuel supplies," NTPC’s new chairman and managing director, Mr Ram
Sharan Sharma, said on Friday.
It currently imports about two million tonnes of coal out of the total
requirement of 110 million tonnes to fire its thermal power plants.
The company is looking at coal mines abroad that can give upto 20 million
tonnes of coal per annum.
"We are looking at coal mines in Indonesia, Mozambique and South Africa," he
said.
The company needs about five million tonnes of coal for projects already
planned and the balance would meet the fuel requirement of future projects.
The company has already floated a joint venture firm Coal Ventures
International Ltd, with Steel Authority of India Ltd, Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Ltd,
Coal India Ltd and National Mineral Development Corp to secure coal mines
abroad.
Of the 29,144 MW generation capacity with NTPC, 18 are coal-fired plants with a
cumulative capacity of 23,209 MW, while its remaining capacity operates on gas
and liquid fuels like naphtha. (PTI)
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France calls for focus on trade
By OUR CORRESPONDENT
Chennai, May 9: The ambassador of France to India, Mr Jerome Bonnafont, said
that the bilateral trade between India and France would double to 12 billion
euros ($18.48 billion) by 2012.
While talking to reporters at a session organised by the Confederation of
Indian Industries, here on Friday, the ambassador stressed on the need for the
two countries to collaborate on non conventional fronts such as agriculture,
water management, and nuclear energy.
Mr Bonnafont pointed out that France could help India increase its agricultural
productivity, food processing technology and in organisation of market for the
agricultural produce.
He stressed on the need for another green revolution in India and said that
this time the focus should be on optimum utilisation of water and fertilisers.