Hyderabad: Thermal power plants across the country are facing a shortage of coal. If this situation does not improve over the next few days, there is a real threat that power generated may stop.
According to sources, about 600 MW of coal based power generation is already affected due to the coal shortage. The western and northern regions are the most affected and in states such as Maharashtra and Rajasthan, about 40 per cent of power generated from coal is affected.
According to data of the Central Electricity Authority (CEA), most thermal power plants have just one to three days of reserve coal stock. Sources in Singareni Collieries say thermal plants to which it supplies coal are not facing any shortage of coal. These include plants in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
According to CEA data, the number of thermal power plants in the country with critical stock (for only seven days) is four. The number of thermal power plants with super critical stock (for only four days) is 23.
The CEA said that plants having low stocks due to outstanding dues, supply being more than committed quantity, and not lifting offered coal, are not listed in the critical and super critical data.
In Andhra Pradesh, the Rayalaseema thermal power station (RTPS) has coal stock for only four days, the Simhadri thermal power station has coal stock for two more days and Vyzag thermal power plant has coal stock for three days.
In Telangana, Ramagundam thermal power plant has coal stock for three days and Kakatiya and Kothagudem thermal power plants have coal stock for 10-21 days.
There are nine plants in the northern region and 12 plants in the western region that are in critical and super critical stages.
The Union power ministry says that the issue of coal supply to power plants is being addressed in a coordinated manner by the three concerned ministries — power, coal and Railways.
The power ministry said that this is being monitored at the highest level and that in spite of the the unprecedented rise in the demand for coal based power, due to better coordinated planning the demand of electricity in the grid is being met.
More than 65 per cent of India’s electricity generation capacity comes from thermal power plants, with about 85 per cent of the country’s thermal power generation being coal-based. The 10 biggest thermal power stations operating in India are all coal-fired.
