To invest R20,995 cr in FY13
Despite the economic slowdown, NTPC is going ahead with its investment plans. The company has exceeded its investment target for the first quarter and is now working to meet the annual target, NTPC?s top boss said.
NTPC?s investment target for the April-June 2012 quarter was R3,967 crore, which the company has met. The company?s annual target is set at R20,995 crore. In comparison, its investment target in the 2012 fiscal was R17, 400 crore.
?We have exceeded the investment target for the first quarter and are now working to achieve the annual investment target,? Arup Roy Choudhury, NTPC chairman and managing director, said.
The company has been getting assured coal supply from Coal India. But with the coal supplier now planning to reduce its supply commitment from 80% to 65%, NTPC seems to be apprehensive about fuel security of upcoming plants.
?NTPC?s capacity addition activities during the 12th Plan period, including the 13th Plan start-ups, could get impacted if it does not get assured coal linkage and mine allocation,? Choudhury said. He strongly supported the proposal to set up a coal regulatory authority, saying: ?A regulator is one of the main inputs required to improve the coal sector performance.?
The company added 9,610 MW capacity during the previous Plan, surpassing the 9,220 MW target. During the last 21 months, the company has added 6,980 MW capacity, which accounts for 20% of the total capacity addition during the last 35 years. It has commissioned 2,160 MW capacity during the first quarter of the current fiscal.
It has also awarded contracts for implementation of projects totalling 6,860 MW during the past six months. The company has targeted to spend R2,19,613 crore during the current 12th Plan, up from R1,24,244 crore in the previous Plan. The company?s generation performance is also estimated to have been robust during the first quarter.