Kolkata, Sept. 21 -- The West Bengal Power Development Corporation Limited (WBPDCL) plans to supply around 3.5 million tonnes of surplus coal to National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) by March 2027. The state government is set to earn huge revenues from selling surplus coal.
According to sources, the WBPDCL has already started supplying its surplus coal to state-run power producer NTPC, following the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the two. The state is expected to bring in over Rs 1,000 crore to state coffers.
The state power utility has strengthened its domestic coal availability to meet the requirements of its own generating stations. Now the additional quantities will be supplied to another major power producer.
The WBPDCL operates power-generation assets in West Bengal and has access to captive coal resources. The company has been working towards securing adequate coal supplies for its generating stations, reducing dependence on external sources. Under the new agreement, NTPC, which is one of India's largest electricity generators, will receive the surplus fuel. The additional coal is expected to support the company's fuel requirements for its thermal power operations.
The agreement, which was done between WBPDCL and NTPC, highlights the growing importance of efficient coal utilisation across the country's power sector, particularly as thermal power continues to account for a significant share of India's electricity generation. The latest arrangement allows the utility to monetise coal available beyond its own operational requirements while enabling NTPC to access an additional domestic source of fuel.
Incidentally, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, who is also in charge of the power department, recently said in the Assembly that his government would initiate the process of stock market listing of the WBPDCL. This would strengthen WBPDCL financially, improve transparency, generate employment and enhance spending under corporate social responsibility, he said, while replying to a debate on the power department's Rs 5,341-crore demand for grants for the current fiscal, that was passed by voice vote.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.