Coal news and updates

Andhra Pradesh to import coal to tide over supply deficit

Amid the unprecedented power demand and severe shortage of coal, the Andhra Pradesh Power Development Corporation Limited (APPDCL) has called tenders to import one lakh tons of coal to scale up power generation at Krishnapatnam thermal power plant.
The Andhra Pradesh Power Generation Corporation and APPDCL will also go for tenders to import coal to the tune of 18 lakh tons and 13 lakh tons respectively.
According to the state officials, the national power consumption stood at a record 207 gigawatts on April 29. The peak hour deficit was 10.8 gigawatts on April 28, the highest since 2012. Almost all the states faced the peak shortage of power on April 28. Some states overdrew heavy quantities of electricity from the grid to meet the demand and requested the Centre for adequate coal availability for thermal power plants.
Andhra Pradesh is facing a similar situation. As of April 29, the coal stock availability in the Vijayawada thermal power station had enough left for 1.28 days, Rayalaseema Thermal power plant for 1.37 days, Krishnapatnam for 7.52 days and Hinduja for 1.93 days.
State energy minister, Peddireddi Ramachandra Reddy, said the prevailing power shortage is only a temporary phenomenon. “I am confident that the state will soon overcome the situation. Andhra Pradesh does not have coal pit heads and the state invariably depends on Mahanadi coalfields and Singareni collieries. Adequate coal is not available due to various constraints at the national and international level. At the same time, there is an unexpected electricity demand due to abnormal increase in temperatures,” said Ramachandra Reddy.
The energy minister added that the power purchase cost has hit a 10-year high due to all these factors. “Apart from coal shortage, limited availability of power in the open market has forced the utilities to impose restrictions in the industrial sector,” said Reddy.
In view of the severe shortage of power, the energy minister directed APGenco to expedite the commissioning of 800 MW thermal power plant at Krishnapatnam phase-2 as possible before month-end or the first week of June.