PM asks Planning Commission for urgent report on fuel shortage for power

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Thursday asked the Planning Commission to make an urgent review of fuel shortages faced by power plants and submit a report in three weeks.

"Several chief ministers have drawn attention to the problem of fuel availability affecting power plants. I am requesting the Planning Commission to make a quick review of the situation and submit a report to me within three weeks," Singh said in his closing remarks at the 57th National Development Council (NDC) meeting here.

"I would request all chief ministers to write to the Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission giving details of Plants, which they feel are adversely affected," Manmohan Singh said.

The coal shortage is a major problem for the thermal power sector, for which a generation capacity addition of about 88,000 MW has been projected in the 12th Five-Year Plan (2012-17).

State miner Coal India has differnces with power firms over the signing of Fuel Supply Agreements (FSAs). Thses pacts are yet to be signed for generation capacity of about 8,000 MW ready to be commissioned.

The Prime Minister's Office gave fresh directions to power companies on Dec 17 to enter into FSAs within a month, after its November deadline for the supply pacts was missed.