India's NALCO plans to import 130,000T coal-sources

NEW DELHI, Aug 12 (Reuters) - India's National Aluminium Co Ltd (NALCO) (NALU.BO) is planning to import 130,000 tonnes of coal, including from Indonesia and Australia, to help ease an energy shortfall, a company source told Reuters on Tuesday.

"It should start coming in by this month end," one source said, adding state-run trading firms were involved in the import.

"The coal situation has improved for us, but still it is critical," said the source, who could not be identified because he was not authorised to speak to the media.

Another company source also said imports were on the anvil. "We are looking at some imports," he said.

NALCO resumed normal production at its alumina refinery in the eastern state of Orissa's Damanjodi earlier this month, after output was curtailed last month due to coal shortage.

The company's coal stocks are just sufficient for up to three days requirement at both its refinery and a power plant in Angul, the first source said, adding the imported coal will only be used at the Angul facility.

Domestic coal supplies are expected to improve only after the monsoon rains end in September. (Reporting by Biman Mukherji; Editing by Ranjit Gangadharan)