New Delhi: The government has selected 10 entities as Third-Party Testing Agency (TPA) for testing coal samples at different loading points. The Ministry of Coal had floated a Request for Qualification (RfQ) for the same in 2023. In an action plan released in 2023, the Ministry of Coal had placed a lot of emphasis on having third-party conduct quality checks for coal produced by coal companies, which has been a long-standing demand from both power and non-power consumers of coal.
The list of entities shortlisted by the Coal Controller’s Organisation (CCO) as TPAs for sampling of coal includes TCRC Quality Control LLP, Quality Services and Solutions Pvt Ltd, Geochem Laboratories Pvt Ltd, Geo-coal Engineering Pvt Ltd, Ravi Energie Pvt Limited, Minerals Lab Services Pvt Ltd, Qualitek Labs Ltd, Dr Amin Controllers Pvt Ltd, Mitra SK Pvt Ltd and Superintendence Company of India Pvt Ltd.
“The empanelment is for collection, preparation, testing, analysis and documentation of coal samples at different loading points across the country,” said the Coal Ministry. The ministry also said that the TPAs will carry out the sampling activity in line with the operational and technical guidelines stipulated in BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards), Fuel Supply Agreements or tripartite agreements and Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) and laid down guidelines by CCO as agreed in the contract finalised after the process of empanelment.
These TPAs will be responsible for collection of samples at loading points of coal companies, preparation of laboratory samples, testing and analysis of prepared samples in NABL accredited laboratories and preparation of test report for samples. The initial period of empanelment will be for two years which can be extended with the consent of the CCO and the TPA subject to performance and conduct of the agency, said the Coal Ministry.