With a current generating capacity of approximately 30,644MW, NTPC has embarked on plans to increase its capacity to 75,000MW by 2017. The utility plans to import five to ten million tonnes of coal from Australia in the next three to five years. It is also planning to import same quantity of coal from Indonesia.
RS Sharma, chairman and managing director of NTPC, was quoted by Business Standard as saying that the company has already identified coal mines in Australia. The Australian government has assured necessary assistance. The emphasis will be on acquisition of existing mines or form joint ventures.
In April 2010, NTPC formed a joint venture with state-owned Coal India to acquire coal assets in the country and abroad. According to media reports, NTPC had identified mines in Indonesia and Mozambique and was in talks on these coal assets.
