Augmentation of coal storage capacity and deployment of more wagons and rakes are among the long term and short term measures that the government will take to reduce the critical shortage of coal reserves in thermal power plants and ensure transport and holding capacity. In the future, coal grows in plants.
After coal reserves in several thermal power plants fell to critical levels, the three ministries concerned on Tuesday went into a tizzy and chalked out various measures.
Officials said that due to the monsoon production being affected in many of Coal India’s pits, many power plants have stocks which will last for about a week. To deal with this situation, the Ministers of Coal, Power and Railways decided that in future, power plants that are far away from the sources of coal would work to increase their storage capacity.
According to official figures, the cumulative coal stock in thermal power plants is currently 10 million tonnes, which is enough for just six days. The coal stock in Coal India Limited is 45 million tonnes, which is sufficient for 25 days. As per official estimates, there is no shortage of domestic coal at present. So far, 231 MT has been supplied by Coal India Limited to the power sector, which is the highest.
It was discussed in the meeting that there is a 17 per cent shortfall in coal loading in relation to the target with monsoon rains, and consequently a 12 per cent shortfall in the power sector. This not only reflects the shortage of coal in power houses, but the industry is in distress due to reduced load in the non-power sector, it was discussed, sources said.
Now the plan is to project the coal demand for the power sector for 5 and 10 years and work accordingly. In addition, Railways have also been requested to rationalize the freight rates of coal, which are the highest at present.
According to statistics, coal stocks in 47 thermal power plants have reached “supercritical” levels, lasting less than four days after production. In 38 power plants, it has reached “critical” levels where stacked coal is expected to last less than seven days. There are 10 plants located more than 1,500 km from the source of the coal that now have stocks of less than nine days.
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