Power Plants Face Less Than 4 Days of Coal Stocks: Minister

New Delhi: Twenty two coal-based power plants monitored by the Central Electricity Authority were reeling under fuel shortages with stocks to last less than four days as of last week, Coal and Power Minister Piyush Goyal said on Monday.

"As on 29th July, out of the coal-based power stations monitored on daily basis by the Central Electricity Authority (CEA), 22 power plants are having coal stock less than four days," the minister said in a written reply to Rajya Sabha.

He cited reasons like difficulties in supply of coal from Coal India subsidiaries due law and order problems and deficient monsoon for low coal stocks at power plants.

"Due to deficient monsoon, the hydro generation has reduced considerably, thus requiring enhanced generation from coal-based stations. Due to this, coal requirement has increased," Mr Goyal said.

"Thus during June, 2014 there was a record growth of 20.35 per cent in coal-based generation as compared to last year during the same month," he added.

He, however, said efforts were being made to supply adequate coal to critical power plants to maintain generation.

"As on July 29, 2014, the availability of coal in thermal power plants which are monitored by CEA is 9.88 million tonnes (MT)."