Coal stocks at power plants improve

NEW DELHI: The number of thermal power plants having critically low stocks of domestic coal has reduced significantly for the first time in nearly two months, implying higher production and improved transportation of coal in the country.

Data from the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) showed that as on Monday (June 20), only 74 of 150 power plants running on domestic coal in the country had critically low coal levels. The national peak demand on the same day was 183,850 MW, and the shortfall was merely 109 MW.

In view of improved coal supplies, domestic coal-based (DCB) power plants generated a record high-power of 3.3 million units per day between June 1 and June 16, data showed. Increased electricity generation did not deplete coal stocks at these DCB power plants during the same period and the stocks increased from 21.85 MT (June 1) to 22.64 MT (June 16).

“The situation started drastically improving from last week as states have been lifting coal mostly on time and the turnaround time has improved. Since June 17, the number of plants having low stocks has remained at 75 or below. Otherwise till June 13, about 81 plants running on domestic coal had critically low stocks. Between April and May, there were problems because 85 to 95 plants were having critically low stocks,” a senior official in the power ministry said, requesting anonymity.

To be sure, the situation has also improved on account of the onset of the monsoon, ending the heatwave in north and northwestern India.

An official in the ministry said India currently has stocks of at least 52 million tonnes (MT), which is sufficient for about 24 days of fuel required for power plants in the country. Additionally, about 4.5 MT of coal stock is ready to be transported to the power plants.

“With increased production, the rake supply from Coal India Ltd (CIL) to the power sector has also been at an all-time high,” the coal ministry said in a statement on June 19.

This year, the ministry is projecting peak electricity demand to further go up to 215,000 MW.