Guj allows pass-through of higher coal cost for Tata

Bringing relief to thermal power plants owned by Tata, Adani and Essar groups, the Gujarat government on Saturday passed an order to allow pass-through of higher cost of coal to end consumers, a source said.

The Supreme Court had earlier ruled against any compensatory tariff for Tata Power, Adani Power (4600MW Mundra) and Essar Power (1320MW Salaya) plants to allow pass-through of higher cost of imported coal.

Confirming the development, Tata Power in a BSE filing Monday said, "The company welcomes the resolution by the government of Gujarat to accept the recommendations of the high-power committee in giving some relief to Mundra ultra mega power project that meets nearly 15 per cent of Gujarat's requirement of power at a very reasonable cost."

"This relief will help Coastal Gujarat Power to continue its operations to meet its obligations to all the five beneficiary states," it added.

It further said, "Though the coal cost is now a pass-through, the company would continue to make losses due to rebate on financing cost, and coal mines' profit is being passed on to beneficiaries states."

According to the statement, Tata Power expect to get the consent of other four procurer states and, thereafter, amendment to the PPAs (power purchase agreement), based on the recommendations of the High Power Committee, so as to seek necessary approvals from power regulator Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) as per the directions of the Supreme Court.

Tata Power said, "This positive step is in the interest of all stakeholders, including the end consumers, who get 24X7 reliable electricity supply from the CGPL (Mundra) power plant."

In case these projects were shut down, replacing such huge capacity with alternate sources from the market would not be feasible as the short-term market prices are not only much higher and volatile, but the availability of power is uncertain, it said.

Also, establishing new imported/indigenous coal-based power plants would have significantly higher fixed and variable costs and high gestation period; and hence, would not offer any solution to immediate power requirement, it added.

The company has asked BSE to discard its earlier letter, in which it had inadvertently mentioned that the Mundra ultra mega power project meets nearly 23 per cent of Gujarat's requirement of power.