Ensure coal reserves, thermal power plants told

LUCKNOW: Fearing that coal shortage may trip power supply during summers this year, the UPPCL has asked thermal power houses to ensure that they have at least 15 days’ coal in reserve besides completing maintenance of machines.

At a meeting called by principal secretary, energy and UP Power Corporation Ltd (UPPCL) chairman Alok Kumar here, the officials of the thermal plants (government and private) pointed out the problem arising from shortage of coal.

“Some plants were found to be running on day-to-day supply of coal, forget about them having coal in reserve,” said sources. Coal India Ltd and its subsidiaries have stopped or curtailed coal supply to many of UP’s thermal power plants because of payment arrears. “The UP Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam alone owes around Rs 900 crore dues to Coal India,” sources said.

As per an estimate by the UP Power Corporation Ltd (UPPCL), the state is expected to experience a peak demand for around 20,000 mw during summers, meeting which may be a challenge in view of coal shortage.

“The UPPCL may have to arrange 4000 mw additional power from various sources after the state’s own public and private plants produce power at their maximum capacity,” sources

said, adding “Lack of coal may restrict thermal plants from giving their best.”

Inadequate capacity of transmission lines is another challenge that may come in the way of efforts for providing electricity. “As the existing capacity of transmission lines is only to transmit around 18,000 mw of power, meeting peak demand at 20,000 mw may be a problem,” they added.

Kumar said all steps were being taken to ensure that electricity was provided as per schedule during summers, despite all the constraints.

“We will ensure that a director-level official participates in the meetings that the coal ministry calls from time to time and get the coal crunch issue resolved,” he said.