GVK gets 'green nod' to import coal from SA for Punjab plant.

GVK Power (Goindwal Sahib) Ltd., a subsidiary of GVK Power and Infrastructure, has got permission from the environment ministry to import coal from South Africa as a 'stop gap' arrangement in case the company fails to get coal from its captive mines in Tosikud North Sub-Block in Jharkhand, according to official sources.

'As the Tosikud North Sub-Block mine development has been delayed due to reasons beyond control of the company, GVK proposed to use imported coal from South Africa (2.28 million tonnes per annum) as a stop gap arrangement to commission the plant operations. The EAC (Expert Appraisal Committee) has given permission to GVK to use imported coal for the plant for two years,' sources said.

GVK is setting up a 2x270 MW Thermal Power Plant at Goindwal Sahib tehsil in Tarn Taran district of Punjab, and both the units have been synchronised to the grid.

A senior official of the power project developer said they have already received tapering coal linkage from Coal India to the tune of 1.5 lakh tonnes and half of it is expected soon.

BS