In what could boost the plant utilisation for Anil Ambani-promoted Reliance Infra, the government allowed its Sasan Ultra Mega Power Plant (SPL) to extract an extra 1.2 million tonnes of coal from Moher & Moher Amlohri Extension coal mines.

In what could boost the plant utilisation for Anil Ambani-promoted Reliance Infra, the government allowed its Sasan Ultra Mega Power Plant (SPL) to extract an extra 1.2 million tonnes of coal from Moher & Moher Amlohri Extension coal mines.

This would ensure fuel availability for the plant for rest of the fiscal. Though the coal ministry had directed the firm in June last year to limit annual coal production at 16 MTPA for Sasan plant, it allowed extraction of extra coal over the prescribed amount after it was convinced that the company had exhausted the mandated amount of coal due to high average plant load factor (PLF) through the fiscal year.

“Based on representations by SPL and its procurers to permit SPL to produce the requisite coal sufficient to meet the requirement of Sasan UMPP, the coal ministry has permitted to increase the coal production up to 17.20 MTPA during 2015-16,” Reliance Power said. While the coal ministry allowed SPL to extract extra coal for current fiscal, it cleared the way for similar approval in subsequent years based on requirements.