To produce power, government-owned NTPC is set to start mining from its captive Pakri Barwadih coal block in Jharkhand. The coal block could start production from this week.
Captive mining is a first for the country’s biggest power generator, which depends on Coal India, another state-run company, for fuel and has been meeting the gap in its requirement through imports.
NTPC has also been pushing others to use captive coal blocks, mainly because mine allocation issues have been obstructing the development of the sector. Commencing operations at the Pakri Barwadih block will be a major breakthrough for the company, which has been facing law and order problems in the State.