September 21, 2011. The coal ministry will award mining blocks to state-run NTPC for four of its upcoming projects and could also return licences that were revoked in June, putting the power plans of the company back on track. The four NTPC power projects, entailing an investment of Rs. 8,500 crore, are: 2,400-mw Kudgi project in Karnataka, 1,600-mw Gajmara project in Orissa, and 1,320-mw Barethi and 500-mw Unchahar projects in UP. Equipment for three of these projects was being sourced through international tariff-based competitive bidding. NTPC is expected to use 280 mt of coal a year by 2017, the terminal year of the next five-year plan. Around 70% of this is to be met from domestic sources, 20% from own mines and the rest 10% through imports. In June, the ministry had revoked licences of 15 coal and lignite blocks, 12 of which belonged to state-run companies. The five blocks of NTPC- Chattibariatu, Chattibariatu (South), Kerandari, Brahmani and Chichiro Patsimal- were de-allocated on grounds of slow progress. The other three blocks being considered for re-allotment are Damodar Valley Corp's Saharpur Jamarpani, Tenughat Vidyut Nigam's Gondulpara and Jharkhand State Electricity Board's Banhardih.