August 8, 2012. Coal India has agreed to pay penalties of 1.5%-40% depending on the extent to which it fails to supply the committed quantity of coal to power plants. Coal India board also agreed to pool imported and domestic coal supplies provided all existing consumers and stakeholders agree to the proposal. Approval of the Central Electricity Authority and buyers such as the Railways is needed because price pooling would raise costs of coal for existing plants and raise power tariffs by about 8 paise per unit. Only 25% of the cost of imported coal will be pooled and divided equitably among all power producers. The remaining 75% of the cost of imported coal would be borne by the power producers who consume the coal. CIL may have to import at least about 20 million tonnes of coal in 2012-13.