Coal news and updates

Power outages may fall as coal stocks improve at plants

Coal stocks at power plants in the country have improved considerably over the last few months despite Coal India missing its production targets, raising hopes of less power cuts this summer. Stocks at some 80 thermal power stations have touched 19 million tonnes, which is enough for 15 days of generation.

 Apart from Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and to some extent Tamil Nadu, power demand during peak hours has been mostly met and there is a only a shortfall ranging between 1 mw and 300 mw.

Demand in states like Punjab, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh, Gujarat, Puducherry, Jharkhand, Odisha, Sikkim and Tripura have been fully met with no peak period shortages.

Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu accounted for 4,845 mw of demand shortfall during the peak period out of a total 6,573 mw for the country.

Barring 14 power stations, all other stations in the country have stocks that will last between seven days and two-and-ahalf months, according to the Central Electricity Authority.

Although coal stocks at thermal power plants in Uttar Pradesh can last for 20 days, the state has been suffering due to an inadequate distribution network, said a senior official.

Coal production during the first five months of the year is better than the rest of the year due to weather conditions. During rainy season, production hits a low as pits get flooded.

Power demand also declines during the period. The loss in power generation due to the shortage of coal is made up by increasing hydel power production during that time.

Power shortage in south India has been largely due to the inability to send larger volumes of power from the rest of country to the southern grid. Even after setting up a new grid, which connects south India to the rest of the country, power supply has not improved considerably.

As the new grid stabilises, more volumes can be sent to the southern grid, an official said. TIGH

Source: The Economic Times