Energy Crisis Looms As 29% Thermal Plants Left With 10% Or Less Coal Stock

Clouds of a looming power crisis threaten to engulf the country, barely six months after several states were facing the prospects of a black-out due to acute shortage of coal, as 48 out of the 164 thermal power plants - i.e.29 per cent - are left with negligible amount of dry fuel stocks, even as Coal Minister Pralhad Joshi has said that the country is geared up to meet the rising power demand owing to strong economic growth.

According to the latest daily coal stock report released by the Central Electricity Authority, as on April 19, 27 thermal power plants were left with 0 per cent to 5 per cent coal stock against the required normative quota. Also, there were 21 thermal power plants which had coal stock ranging between 6 per cent to 10 per cent.

So, in all, 48 out of the total 164 thermal power plants, monitored by the Central Electricity Authority have reported that they are left with 0 per cent to 10 per cent of coal stock against the required normative stock norms.

In other words, 29.26 per cent plants had negligible coal stocks with them till April 19, 2022.

Contrary to the situation, Mr Joshi had on April 20 countered Congress MP Rahul Gandhi's tweet that India was left with eight days of coal, by tweeting that "72.5 million tonnes of coal stock is available at various sources like Coal India Limited (CIL), washeries, captive blocks, etc. We are geared up to meet the requirements of rising power demand owing to strong economic growth".

It seems Mr. Gandhi is a Self-proclaimed Expert on all matters except those of INC. People involved in coal scam are talking about coal production.

He should know that coal companies have achieved HIGHEST EVER production & offtake in 2021-22, with 30% growth from captive mines. https://t.co/RFnzUJYoqD

April 20, 2022

In another tweet he had said that "In April alone, coal production has further increased by 27 per cent and supplies to thermal power stations by 14 per cent over last year".

In April alone, coal production has further increased by 27% & supplies to thermal power stations by 14% over last year.
Mr. Fake Gandhi should stop fear mongering & instead, introspect about the future of his own party

April 20, 2022

Meanwhile coal ministry sources said that around 20 per cent of the total coal demand requirement in India is met through imports and because of a significant rise in coal prices in international markets, dry fuel import has significantly declined, leading to a demand-supply challenge.

They further said that the decline in import of coal has taken place at a time when there is a huge increase in power demand in the country, as economic activities have significantly increased in recent months. This, they added, led to an increase in demand for coal.

Regarding coal supply to thermal power stations, sources informed that Coal India and its subsidiaries have increased their production and will supply to them.

Incidentally Coal India had reported robust production in 2021-22. (Also Read: 
Coal Imports Fell, Output Rose In 2021-22, Yet States Faced Power Crisis)

The gravity of the situation can be gauged from the fact that due to rising demand, the Power Ministry has favoured a proposal of passing on the cost of generating electricity using high-priced imported coal, to consumers. A move which would lead to spiralling electricity bills in the forthcoming days.

(Also Read: As Power Crisis Looms, Government Favours Passing Generation Cost On Customers)

According to data provided by the Power Ministry, as on April 18, only eight days of coal was left with plants based on domestic as well imported dry fuel. The situation is grave as even during normal winter days, like on January 15, there was eight to nine days of stock left with power plants.

The peak power demand is near last year's all-time high of 200 gigawatts (GW) and the coal stocks position at power plants is not adequate.

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