News Analysis India

Tag: India coal crisis

  • Minister says Maharashtra facing 4,000 MW power shortage, blames Coal India for fuel supply crunch

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: Maharashtra Energy Minister Nitin Raut on Tuesday said the state is facing a shortage of 3,500 to 4,000 MW of electricity supply and blamed “mismanagement and lack of planning” on part of central PSU Coal India Ltd (CIL) for the situation.

    He said Coal India, a Maharatna PSU and the largest producer of the fossil fuel, has failed to ensure timely supply of coal for thermal power generation plants in the state.

    Speaking to reporters, Raut said, “Maharashtra is facing a shortage of electricity supply between 3,500 and 4,000 MW. It is due to Coal India’s unorganized functioning and lack of planning which has resulted in Maharashtra facing a severe shortage of coal.”

    The Congress minister also accused Coastal Gujarat Power Ltd and JSW of not supplying power to Maharashtra despite having agreements to this effect.

    He said, “Coastal Gujarat Power Ltd and JSW have agreements with state power utilities to supply 760 MW and 240 MW, respectively.

    “Both the companies have not been supplying power to Maharashtra, creating a shortage of 1,000 MW. We have long-term agreements with these companies and they do have enough stock, but still power is not being supplied to Maharashtra.”

    According to the latest coal-stock data of the 135 plants with over 165 GW of installed generation capacity monitored by the Central Electricity Authority (CEA), as many 70 plants are categorised as super-critical stock, or having less than four days of fuel, on October 10, 2021, compared to 64 a week ago on October 3, 2021.

    The Central government has asked CIL to augment coal supply to power producers to 1.55-1.6 million tonnes (MT) per day around the Durga Puja period and to further scale it to 1.7 MT per day after October 20.

    The coal ministry on Sunday assured sufficient dry fuel is available in the country to meet the demand of electricity generating plants and said any fear of disruption in power supply is “entirely misplaced”.

    Officials had attributed shortage of coal to disruption of transport due to heavy rains in mining areas.

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  • Coal shortage problem will be stabilized in 1-2 weeks: Central Coalfields Limited MD

    By ANI

    RANCHI: Amid the reports of shortage of coal stock in the country, the Central Coalfields Limited (CCL) said that in the coming one or two weeks the problem will be stabilized.

    In an exclusive conversation with ANI, Chairman and Managing Director of CCL, PM Prasad said, “There is no such crisis. Definitely coal stock is on a low level because power generation is high this year. You can say there is much growth. For Coal India, we have supplied at least 53 million tonnes, more than last year, in the first half of the financial year.”

    He said that the Coal India stock will last for atleast 20 days.

    Asked about the current status of coal stock Prasad said, “The Coal India stock will last for atleast 20 days minimum. In the case of CCL, it is 1.95 million and of Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL), it is 6.5 lakh tonnes. With this stock level and with the production is coming up since monsoon is over. I am confident that the stock remaining the same, whatever we will produce will dispatch to the power plant.”

    With respect to Jharkhand, he said that both CCL and Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL) have more than 25 per cent in dispatch growth.

    “In the coming days, since the monsoon is over I am very much confident that it will be stabilized in the next one week. And post-Durga Puja, it will be further picking up. In the last 3-4 days power plants are getting coal. If the requirement is 1.6 million, almost 1.55 million is being met. I am very much confident that in the coming one or two weeks it will be stabilized,” he emphasised.

    He said that powerhouse coal stocks are being monitored at multiple levels.

    “We are continuously monitoring powerhouse stocks at 2-3 levels. One is at the Coal India level, one is at the Ministry of Coal level, further by inter-ministerial groups, Ministry of power and Railways. This is being done thrice weekly and at the company level, we are monitoring every day. We are having continuous discussions with the energy secretaries of some of the states, DVC chairman and linked power plants. We are in continuous touch,” added Prasad.

    Meanwhile, amid growing concerns of depleting coal stock in the country, Union Home Minister Amit Shah held a high-level meeting with Power Minister RK Singh, Coal Minister Prahlad Joshi along with top officials of both the ministries in the North Block on Monday.

    The meeting also saw the presence of top officials of National Thermal Power Corporation Limited (NTPC).

    The high-level meeting was convened a day after the Union Power Minister assured that the supply stock of coal to power plants has exceeded consumption, adding that it will help in improving the fuel stock position gradually.

    Coal Minister Pralhad Joshi has also denied allegations of power failure due to a shortage of coal.

    The Power Ministry asserted that the Inter-Ministerial sub-group has been monitoring the status of coal reserves twice a week.

    The Chief Ministers of Punjab, Chhattisgarh, Delhi and Andhra Pradesh have written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking to increase the supply of coal and gas to power plants in their respective states.

    Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday said many Chief Ministers have written to the Central government about the critical situation at power plants due to a coal shortage.

    “The situation is critical and many CMs have written about it to the Central government. We all are working together to improve the situation,” he said.

    Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar also flagged the issue of probable coal shortage.

    “It is true there is a problem. As per our requirement, either we get it from NTPC or from private companies. But the supply is affected now. There are some reasons due to which such a situation has arisen. It is not only in Bihar, but also everywhere,” Kumar told mediapersons on Monday.

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  • Power plants ‘shutting down’ across India: Chhattisgarh CM slams Centre’s denial of coal shortage

    By ANI

    RAIPUR: Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Monday slammed the Centre for allegedly denying the reports regarding the coal crisis and questioned why power plants are shutting across the country.

    “The Centre claims that there is no shortage of coal but power plants are shutting down…Why is it making false claims, coal import has also stopped… this will affect the power supply…What is the Centre doing?” Baghel asked the Central government.

    “As far as Chhattisgarh is concerned, I have met with South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL), Power, and Railway officers over the supply of coal. They have assured me that there will not be any shortage of coal supply,” he added.

    Delhi’s Power Minister Satyendra Jain, earlier in the day, alleged that the national capital was getting half the electricity it received earlier.

    “Delhi used to get 4,000 megawatts of electricity but now it is not getting even half of that…..There is a coal shortage in most of the power plants. The stock of coal in any power plant should not be less than 15 days. The stock is left for only two to three days. The NTPC has capped the production capacity of its plants to 50-55 per cent,” Jain told reporters here.

    Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar also flagged the issue of probable coal shortage.

    “It is true there is a problem. As per our requirement, either we get it from NTPC or from private companies. But the supply is affected now. There are some reasons due to which such a situation has arisen. It is not only in Bihar but also everywhere,” Kumar told media persons on Monday.

    The Chief Ministers of Punjab, Delhi and Andhra Pradesh have also written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking to increase the supply of coal and gas to power plants in their respective states.

    Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah held a high-level meeting with Power Minister RK Singh, Coal Minister Prahlad Patel along with top officials of both the ministries in the North Block today.

    The high-level meeting was convened a day after the Union Power Minister assured that the supply stock of coal to power plants has exceeded consumption, adding that it will help in improving the fuel stock position gradually.

    Coal Minister Pralhad Joshi has also denied allegations of power failure due to a shortage of coal.

    The Power Ministry asserted that the Inter-Ministerial sub-group has been monitoring the status of coal reserves twice a week. 

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  • Coal crisis: Number of plants with less than 4-day stock rose to 70 on Oct 10

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Coal shortage crisis at thermal power projects does not seem to abate very soon as the number of non-pit head plants with less than four days of dry fuel stock (supercritical stock) has increased to 70 this Sunday compared to 64 a week ago on October 3, as per government data.

    According to the latest coal stock data of the 135 plants with over 165 GW of installed generation capacity monitored by the Central Electricity Authority (CEA), as many 70 plants are categorised as supercritical stock or having less than four days of fuel on October 10, 2021, compared to 64 a week ago on October 3, 2021.

    The data also showed that the number of non-pit head plants having less than seven days of fuel (critical stock) has also increased to 26 on Sunday from 25 such projects a week ago on October 3, 2021.

    Besides, the data also showed that the number of pit head as well as non-pit head plants, which had stock of dry fuel for up to one week, increased to 115 on this Sunday from 107 last week on October 3, 2021.

    However, it showed that the situation at plants with zero day of dry fuel improved as there were 17 such plants with cumulative capacity of 16,430 MW on this Sunday compared to 17 plants with 21,325 MW capacity a week ago on October 3.

    This Sunday, 26 power plants with 34,930 MW capacity had fuel for one day compared to 20 plants with 22,550 MW a week ago.

    Similarly, 22 plants with 27,325 had coal for two days on Sunday compared to 20 plants with 29,960 MW a week ago.

    The number of plants having three days of coal were 18 with 24,094 MW capacity on Sunday compared to 19 plants with 22,000 MW a week ago.

    As many as 13 plants with 15,210 MW capacity had coal for four days on Sunday compared to 15 plants with 16,890 MW a week ago.

    Those plants which had five days of coal stock on Sunday were 11 with 10,775 MW on Sunday compared to 6 plants with 7,174 MW.

    The number of plants with six days of coal stock was eight with 11,450 MW capacity on Sunday compared to nine plants with 9,360 MW capacity a week ago.

    Earlier in the day, Union Home Minister Amit Shah met Power Minister R K Singh and Coal Minister Pralhad Joshi amid the ongoing coal shortage crisis at power plants.

    During the hour-long meeting, the three ministers were believed to have discussed the availability of coal to power plants and the current power demands.

    Top officials of the power and coal ministries attended the meeting.

    A senior official said that the situation would further improve with the onset of autumn and ramped up coal supplies.

    The official also stated the union power and coal secretaries would make a detailed presentation on the issue to the Principal Secretary, Prime Minister’s Office on Tuesday.

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  • Coal crisis: Govt scrambles all resources to avert power crisis even as Minister RK Singh decries shortage

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: With states from Delhi to Andhra Pradesh sending warnings of a developing power crisis due to shortage of coal, the central government on Sunday pressed all resources at its command to ensure power plants have enough feedstock to generate electricity.

    While Union Power Minister R K Singh reviewed the coal stock position at all thermal power plants, including those units that supply electricity to distribution companies in the national capital, the Ministry of Coal said “ample coal is available in the country to meet the demand” and “any fear of disruption in power supply is entirely misplaced”.

    In a year when the country produced record coal, excessive rains in coal producing belt hit movement of the fuel from mines to power generation units, impacting power generation in many states including Punjab, Rajasthan, Delhi and Andhra Pradesh.

    Another factor that has contributed to the present crisis is power plants that used imported coal to generate electricity, have either curtailed generation or completely stopped as a spurt in international energy prices has made it difficult for them to meet the commitments to states at a particular rate.

    Tata Power, which has signed contracts to supply 1,850 MW of electricity to Gujarat, 475 MW to Punjab, 380 MW to Rajasthan, 760 MW to Maharashtra and 380 MW to Haryana from its imported coal-based power plant at Mundra in Gujarat, has stopped generation.

    After Singh’s review of coal stock position, the power ministry in a statement said the total despatch of coal from all sources (Coal India Limited, Singareni Collieries Company, Captive Coal Mines and imported coal) on October 9 was 1.92 million tonnes (19.2 lakh tonnes) against the total consumption was 1.87 million tonnes (18.7 lakh tonnes).

    “Coal despatch have exceeded the consumption, thereby indicating shift to gradual building up of coal stock,” it said adding the coal stock at power plant is sufficient for more than 4 days’ requirement and as the coal supply is being ramped up by Coal India Ltd (CIL), the coal stock at power plant would gradually improve.

    In a separate statement, the Coal Ministry said coal stock at power plant end is about 72 lakh tonnes, sufficient for four days requirement, and that the Coal India Limited (CIL) has more than 400 lakh tonnes of stocks, which is being supplied to power plants.

    The domestic coal-based power generation has grown by nearly 24 per cent in this year (till September 2021) based on a robust supply from the coal companies.

    “The daily average coal requirement at the power plants is about 18.5 lakh tonnes of coal per day whereas the daily coal supply has been around 17.5 lakh tonnes per day.

    This due to extended monsoons the despatches were constrained,” it said.

    “The coal available at the power plants is a rolling stock which gets replenished by the supplies from the coal companies on a daily basis.”

    Any “fear of coal stocks depleting at the power plant end is erroneous,” it said.

    “In fact this year, domestic coal supply has substituted imports by a substantial measure.”

    Singh, the statement said, has directed that distribution companies of Delhi will get as much power as requisitioned by them as per their demand.

    State-owned “NTPC and DVC have been directed to give full availability as per the requirement of DISCOMs,” it said adding state gas utility GAIL has been advised to make gas available from all sources to gas-based power plants in Delhi.

    NTPC has also been advised to offer normative declared capacity to the Delhi DISCOMs as per their allocations from gas based power plants under respective PPAs.

    “If any DISCOM is found to resort to load shedding despite being power available as per PPA, action would be initiated against them,” the statement warned.

    Despite heavy rains in the month of August-September, steep hike in power demand due to economic recovery and increase in prices of imported coal, domestic coal supply have sustained the operation of power plants and all out efforts are being made to ensure full power supply to the DISCOMs as per their requirements.

    The Coal Ministry said despite heavy rains in the coal field areas, CIL had supplied more than 255 million tonnes of coal to the power sector in this year which is the highest ever supply.

    Out of the total coal supply from all sources, present coal supply from CIL to power sector is more than 14 lakh tonnes per day and with the receding rains, this supply has already increased to 15 lakh tonnes and is set to increase to more than 16 lakh tonnes per day by the end of October 2021.

    The supply from SCCL and captive coal blocks shall contribute to another 3 lakh plus tonnes of coal every day.

    “Domestic coal supplies have supported power generation in a major way despite heavy monsoons, low coal imports and a steep hike in power demand due to economic recovery.

    It is expected that coal supplies are set to be a record high in the current financial year,” it said.

    Due to high international prices of coal, supply of power even under agreements by import based power plants has reduced by almost 30% while domestic based power supply has gone up nearly 24% in April-September this year, the statement said adding the imported coal based power plants have generated about 25.6 billion units against a program of 45.7 BU.

    “It may be noted that the comfortable coal position in the country is reflected by the fact that the CIL has been supplying more than 2.5 lakh tonnes daily to meet the demand of non power industries like aluminium, cement, steel etc along with supply of coal to thermal plants of the country,” the statement added.

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