Telangana Thermal Plants Hold Limited Coal Stock

Hyderabad: India’s coal-fired power plants have adequate coal stocks to meet current electricity demand, with 42.8 million tonnes available as of July 12, enough for 14 days at 85 per cent plant load factor (PLF), the government told the Rajya Sabha on Monday. It said coal supplies were being monitored daily and that coal rakes are being given priority to support uninterrupted thermal generation during peak demand.

In Telangana, the latest Central Electricity Authority daily fuel report for July 14 shows that TSGenco’s Kothagudem Thermal Power Station (New), with 1,000 MW capacity, had 68,000 tonnes of coal stock, equal to 4.34 days at 85 per cent PLF. The same report showed TSGenco’s Yadadri TPS, with 3,200 MW capacity, had 156,400 tonnes, equal to 3.58 days of stock.

Recent reports from Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) stated that it had been prioritising coal dispatch to Telangana thermal stations amid rising demand and El Nino conditions. SCCL officials said around 72 per cent of the company’s coal output was being supplied to TSGenco thermal stations, NTPC Ramagundam and the Singareni thermal plant.

Earlier reports had said Telangana’s thermal stations generally maintained coal stock for about 10 to 15 days, while the state’s own generation system continued to receive supplies without major disruption.

Coal stocks at thermal power plants across the country remain sufficient to meet near-term electricity demand, with the Centre saying 42.8 million tonnes of coal were available at power stations as of July 12, enough for 14 days of generation at 85 per cent plant load factor. The Union power ministry, in its reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha, said coal supply was being monitored daily through a joint mechanism involving the power, railways and coal ministries, while priority was being given to coal rakes and dispatches to power houses to ensure uninterrupted generation during peak demand.