Coal shortage hits power sector

It is believed that a higher level of generation from coal plants, leading to greater coal consumption, along with less supplies from Coal India has resulted in this precarious situation. On some days in December, officials said that four out of the eight power plants in Maharashtra reported coal stocks of less than four days. The problem here was more on account of coal unloading constraints.

In the case of Haryana and Punjab, which have five coal-based thermal power plants and source coal from long distances by rail, on one day — December 4 — all five stations reported less than a week’s stock of coal. And here, the constraint was on account of less receipts from Coal India.

On certain days in the entire northern region — comprising Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Delhi, Punjab and Haryana — which has 20 coal power stations, more than 10 power plants reported stocks of less than a week.