Thermal power output grows in April

Coal-based power generation registered a marginal growth of 2.25 per cent in April compared to March

2022. This has helped a similar growth in overall power generation.

The coal-based power generation in the month of April, 2022 has been

1,02,529 MU in comparison to 1,00,276 MU in March,

2022 and registered a growth of 2.25 per cent. This supported 2.23 per cent growth in total power generation in April, 2022 to 1,36,565 MU from

1,33,584 MU in March,

2022.

The government had attributed low coal stocks at power plants as one of the factors for power shortage. Other factors included increased power demand due to greater industrial activity after the pandemic, early arrival of summer, rise in price of gas and imported coal and a sharp fall in electricity generation by coastal thermal power plants.

Compared to the pandemic-hit April 2021, the coal-based power generation registered a growth of

9.26 per cent. The overall power generation in April,

2022 has been 11.75 per cent higher than the power generated in April

2021.

As per the provisional statistics of the coal ministry, the total coal production increased by 29 per cent to 66.58 million tonnes from 51.62 MT in

April 2022 as compared to April, 2021. Production by Coal India, Singareni Collieries and captive mines increased in April.

Of the top 37 coal producing mines, 22 have performed more than 100 per cent and another 10 mines’ production stood between 80 and 100 per cent.

Fall in import prices of coal have been observed since the end of October last year. However, international prices are still higher.