State-run NTPC today paid an interim dividend of Rs 2,885.92 crore for the current fiscal.

"NTPC paid the highest ever interim dividend of Rs 2,885.92 crore," a company statement said.

Interim dividend is a payment made before a company's final financial statements. NTPC paid this dividend to the government, which is the promoter of the company with 84.5% stake.

The company has paid interim dividend of Rs 3.50 per equity share being 35% of the paid-up equity share capital of the company amounting to Rs 2,885.92 crore for the financial year 2011-12 on February 9, 2012, it said.

Net profit of the company rose 10% at Rs 2,130.39 crore for the quarter ended December 31, 2011 due to increase in coal prices.

NTPC had posted a net profit of Rs 2,371 crore during the corresponding period last fiscal.

Cost of fuel (coal) witnessed a sharp jump of about 29% at Rs 10,793.29, as against Rs 8,338.64 crore.

Net sales of the company rose 14% to Rs 15,332 crore, against Rs 13,421 crore during the same period last fiscal.

NTPC floated a tender in November, 2011 for importing 4 million tonne of coal during the current financial year to feed its plants.

The company's annual coal requirement is approximately around 164 million tonne.

It generates over 36,000 MW of electricity from its various power plants from all sources of energy.