Kumaramangalam told The Financial Express that bringing down electricity tariffs was foremost on his agenda of priorities for the coming year. The new year, he said, would bring into position reduced tariffs from all generators in the public and private sector. Other priorities on his agenda for 1999 include the introduction of availability-based tariff with effect from January, a speedy implementation of the first seven mega power projects identified by his ministry along with a reduction of the customs duties on imported fuels. Kumaramangalam disclosed that he is in the process of negotiating tariffs -- some at as low as 3.2 cents per Kwh -- with the promoters of mega power projects. This, when compared with the tariffs from the existing generating stations of other IPPs, will be a big achievement, as most of the powerpurchase agreements (PPAs) are currently being negotiated at double these prices, and are in the range of 7 cents per Kwh to 7.5 cents per Kwh.