Govt scrambles to meet coal demand

NEW DELHI: As India witnesses one of the hottest summers in recent memory, electricity usage for fans, coolers and ACs has broken records, but power utilities have struggled to meet the increased demand amid a shortage of coal, prompting emergency response by authorities at the Centre and states.

The country on Friday saw a record peak demand of 207,111 MW. Power shortage continued to remain high at 8,120 MW on Friday, which was 10,778 MW on Thursday.

In the past seven days, Rajasthan and Haryana have failed to meet peak power demand as shortfalls rose to 2,229 MW (April 27) and 1,355 MW (April 29), according to reports prepared by the Union power ministry between April 23 and 29.

From Friday, states such as Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh too started recording shortfalls of up to 1,170 MW, even as the situation seemed to ease a bit in Maharashtra, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh after they boosted coal imports and stepped up purchases from power exchanges.

The coal inventory at thermal power plants was reviewed at a meeting chaired by Union power minister RK Singh. He also took stock of Delhi’s power situation separately after chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and Delhi power minister Satyendar Jain flagged low coal inventory.

Although Delhi so far has not seen peak power shortfall, Singh on Saturday said all distribution companies of the national capital will get as much as power as needed.

He also took note that the three Delhi government-run gas power plants are running at partial capacity. The reason for this was low supply and increased cost gas, Delhi power department officials said, requesting anonymity. However, minister Singh urged the Delhi government to ramp up power generation, while assuring adequate supply from GAIL India.