So far, 60 power plants have entered into fuel supply agreements (FSA) with the public sector miner Coal India (CIL).

CIL is mandated to sign a total of 143 FSAs in respect of identified power projects of 60,000-mw capacity, which have been assured for coal supply, in the next five years.

The largest power producer in the country NTPC said it would sign FSA with CIL only if the latter assures to supply coal of a certain minimum calorific value.

While CIL at times supplies coal with average heat generating capacity of about 2,100 kilocalories, NTPC power plants need coal of minimum 3,100 kilocalories.

NTPC, which procures 140 million tonne of coal to run its thermal power plants, has not signed FSAs for 4,500 mw power generation capacity.

According to a top official of NTPC, the company has resolved all the issues with CIL on FSA and the only matter coming in the way of signing the pact is "poor quality" coal.