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Coal Shortage Hits Thermal Power Generation in State

  • Many thermal power plants in the state are in a critical state with coal stock of less than seven working days. Lack of sufficient coal stock is set to effect thermal power generation. The stock at all the thermal stations is so precarious that they are being run on daily basis. Except Ramagundam and Kothagudem, all the other power stations have coal stock for less than stipulated one week.
  • For instance, NTPC's Simhadri thermal station is left with only one day's coal stock, and at present, it is only generating about 75 per cent of its capacity with supplies from Mahanadi Coal fields are getting delayed. Shortage of rail racks has reduced the supplies from MCL.
  • State-run NTPC has an installed capacity of 36,014 MW and recent coal shortage affected its power generation. For the current year, NTPC's coal requirement is about 164 million tonnes, of this about 114 MT is estimated to come from Coal India.
  • AP Transco chairman and managing director Ajay Jain dashed a letter to NTPC requesting it to maintain adequate coal stocks to ensure full generation. The power demand is at its peak and the stocks of coal are low at the Simhadri Thermal Power station.
  • In a letter to NTPC officials, he wanted them to maintain adequate coal stocks at the thermal power stations to avoid inconvenience to the farm sector during Rabi season. Jain said the 1,000 MW stage-1 Simhadri thermal station dedicated to Andhra Pradesh has been producing low output in the last 15 days due to inadequate coal supplies from MCL. He has advised officials of the thermal power stations to maintain adequate coal stocks and ensure full-capacity generation.
  • Vijayawada thermal station with 1760 MW capacity is lifeline of the power sector in the state. The same plant has stock sufficient to generate power for only three days.
  • Rayalaseema thermal power plant with 1050 MW capacity has also reached a dangerous level with just two days stock left in the plant.
  • Thermal plants should have coal stocks to last 25 days for power generation as per the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) guidelines.

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