Power Crisis Over Substandard Coal? – Govt. to Seek AG’s Advice

2026-02-22 - 02:06

The Government is reportedly preparing to seek the advice of the Attorney General over a developing situation involving substandard coal imports from South Africa, which could trigger a power crisis in the coming months. Several consignments of coal imported from South Africa have reportedly failed to meet the required quality standards, raising serious concerns over electricity generation capacity. Meanwhile, allegations have surfaced that the entire coal tender process was tainted by corruption. Accordingly, the Government is planning to obtain the Attorney General’s advice on measures that can be taken to ensure greater transparency in future tender procedures, as well as on whether amendments can be made to the currently operative tender. Internal documents from the Lakvijaya Coal Power Plant reveal that three consecutive shipments of South African coal, procured through India’s Trident Chemphar Ltd., have failed sample quality tests. Official data further confirm that the Gross Calorific Value (GCV) of each shipment was significantly below the required level for efficient electricity generation at the plant’s three operational units. A total of 23 coal shipments have been purchased under this tender. Reports warn that if the supply of low-quality coal continues, it could severely impact power generation capacity and lead to electricity shortages in the near future.