India sets coal-import deadline for govt-owned power producers

Having already announced a stated policy to reduce coal imports to nil, India has directed government-owned thermal power plants to stop coal imports from April 1. In advisory to thermal power plants owned and operated by federal or provincial government companies, the Coal Ministry has said that coal contracts and shipment from overseas have to be concluded by the start of the next financial year, adding that Coal India Limited (CIL) will supply thermal power producers’ coal demand.