With temperatures rising and demand for energy rising by the day, fears of a power crisis loom big, especially when numerous thermal power plants around the nation, including those in Karnataka, are experiencing significant coal shortage.
According to the Central Electricity Authority’s coal stock assessment, 100 of the country’s 173 thermal power plants’ coal stock conditions are critical as of April 18. When a thermal power plant’s coal supply is less than 25% of its typical stock, the CEA considers it critical.
According to the data, total coal stock in thermal plants was 22.52 million tonnes, compared to typical stock of 66.72 million tonne, or barely 34% of normal stock.
All four thermal power plants in Karnataka, including the NTPC-operated Kudgi thermal power plant, have dangerously low coal stocks, according to the authorities. The three state-run power plants have just 1.87 million tonnes of coal on hand, compared to a normal supply of 16.99 million tonnes.
Bellary thermal power plant has a 13% stock, Raichur thermal power plant has an 11% stock, and Yeramarus thermal power plant has a 9% stock. According to the research, three state-run power facilities get 60,000 tonnes of coal everyday but only use 37,000 tonnes.
The NTPC-operated Kudgi thermal power plant has a stock of 60,000 tonnes, which is just 8% of the overall stock of 7.99 lakh tonnes. According to the report, the NTPC would move railway rakes from other facilities to the facility to alleviate the shortage.
Udupi thermal power plant has 17% stock, whereas Toranagallu (SBU-I) has 0% stock and Toranagallu TPS (SBU-II) has 71% stock among private power plants. According to the CEA analysis, these facilities build their inventories via importing coal.
On Tuesday night, Union Home Minister Amit Shah convened a meeting with Coal Minister Pralhad Joshi, Union Power Minister R K Singh, and Railway Minister Ashwani Vaishnaw to assess the situation. All three ministers were ordered by Shah to work together to increase coal supplies to all power facilities.
155 non-pit head (power plants distant from coal mines) thermal power plants have only 26% coal stock against normal stock, whereas 18 pit head (thermal plants adjacent to coal mines) thermal power plants have 80% coal stock against normal stock.
According to the study, 80 of the 100 thermal plants with limited coal supplies that were designated as critical rely on local coal, while 11 rely on imported coal.
In a letter to the Union Ministry of Power, the All India Power Engineers Federation (AIPEF) stated that thermal plants throughout the nation are experiencing coal shortage, signalling a coming power crisis in the country.
In a statement, AIPEF spokeswoman V K Gupta said that a paucity of railway waggons has also hampered coal supplies. The Indian Railways run 415 trains every day, compared to 453 requested by the utilities, he added.
CIL, the country’s largest coal producer and supplier, announced on Tuesday that it increased deliveries to coal-fired power plants by 14.2% in the first half of this month.
Last week, the Union Power Ministry proposed importing up to 10% coal for blending to maintain enough supplies for continuous energy supply in the coming weeks, when demand is projected to climb even more.
