We have surrendered Kudanali-Luburi Coal blocks- NTPC

New Delhi: India's largest power generating company, NTPC has said that the Government has accepted its request to surrender the Kudanali-Luburi coal block located at Odisha. The coal mines were allotted to NTPC jointly with Jammu & Kashmir State Power Development Corporation Ltd (JKSPDC) in July 2013. The allocation of coal mines now stands cancelled with the approval of the competent authority i.e. GoI. The coal blocks based in Talcher, Odisha has a coal reserve of about 397.1 MT (Million Tonne).

'Govt cancelled the allocation'

On Tuesday the coal ministry had sent a letter to both the PSUs, NTPC and JKSPDC regarding the cancellation of the coal blocks. "It has been decided, with the approval of competent authority in the Ministry of Coal, to cancel the allocation of Kudanali-Luburi coal block jointly allocated to NTPC Ltd and Jammu & Kashmir State Power Development Corporation Ltd (JKSPDC), " the ministry said in the letter.

'NTPC surrendered coal blocks'

On Wednesday, NTPC issued a press statement which said "NTPC had written to the Ministry of Coal to surrender the mine as the mine was allotted for developing 1320 MW Bilhaur thermal power plant at Uttar Pradesh, which now is being developed as a solar plant and Power Purchase Agreement for this has been signed with Uttar Pradesh". The ministry further said in the letter that there is no provision under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957, and the rules made thereunder to allocate fresh coal block in lieu of a cancelled coal block. "NTPC and JKSPDC may apply afresh for allocation of coal blocks as and when the public notice is issued by the ministry of coal/nominated authority for allocation of coal blocks under MMDR act".

NTPC currently has 10 coal blocks i.e. Pakri Barwadih, Chatti Bariatu (including Chatti Bariatu-South), Kerandari, Dulanga, Talaipalli, Bhalumuda, Banai, Mandakini-B, Banhardih and Badam Coal block with geological reserves of over 7.3 Billion Tonnes & production potential of about 113 Million Tonnes Per Annum. The Company has also made substantial progress in coal mining and approx. 7.31 MMT coal was extracted from Pakri-Barwadih and Dulanga mines in the last financial year. NTPC has targeted to produce 10.4 Million MT of coal in this financial year.