CAG had in 2018 report pointed to ‘excess payments of 813 cr’ by TANGEDCO to coal suppliers & alleged irregularities in imported coal procured by PSU between 2013 and 2016.
Shipping experts & economists say impact on coal-importing countries is likely to be negligible, and India could potentially gain from this disruption if it's agile enough.
Financial Times report says Adani Group paid extra for coal imports to benefit companies linked to its owners. Adani Group preemptively denied all allegations days before report was made public.
India earlier said these plants were to operate at full capacity till 15 June, as the Centre looked to maximise output ahead of an expected record surge in power usage during the summer.
Taliban increased the price of coal from $90 per tonne to $200 per tonne, and set custom duties at 30%, hours after Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif announced import plans.
Federal minister in charge in 2017 complained that a third of India’s coal-based capacity depended on imports, while cheaper Indian coal isn’t of the quality plants are designed to handle.
The fuel will mainly be used at power plants located far from domestic mines, which are most vulnerable to disruptions. India has been grappling with shortages of coal since August.
Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren has chosen to oppose commercial coal mining, which damages our national interests as it makes it difficult to deal with local issues.
In 2017-18, India imported 208 million tonnes of coal, up from 191 million tonnes the previous year, and between April and Nov 2018, imports rose by over 9%.
In tactical terms, the shirtless protest was worse than a self-goal. Suddenly, the fiascos of the AI Summit were forgotten, and the Youth Congress’s disruption became the issue.
IAF is fine with accepting the aircraft with 'must-haves', even if some other steps remain pending, which may take at least another year, it is learnt.
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