Coal availability is sufficient to meet power plant demands: Coal Ministry
11 Oct 2021 11:32:06
New Delhi, October 11: Amidst speculation of power cut due to the coal shortage across thermal power plants across India, Ministry of Coal reassured that ample coal is available in the country to meet demands of power plants. Inhibition of disruption in power supply is entirely misplaced.
Due to the extended monsoons, the despatches were restrained. The coal available at power plants is a rolling stock which gets replenished by supplies from the coal companies on a daily basis. Hence, any inhibition of coal stocks depleting at the power plant end is erroneous. This year, the domestic coal supply has substituted imports by substantial measure.
The supply from SCCL and captive coal blocks shall contribute to more 3 lakhs plus tonnes of coal every day. Domestic coal supplies have supported power generation in a major way despite heavy monsoons, low coal imports and steep hike in power demand due to economic recovery. Coal supplies are set to be a record high in the current FY.
The coal stock at power plant end is about 72 lakh tonnes - sufficient for 4 days requirement, and that the Coal India Limited / CIL end over 400 Lakh tonnes, which is being supplied to the power plants.
The domestic coal-based power generation has grown by nearly 24% this year, till September 2021, based on a vigorous supply from coal companies. The daily average coal requirement at power plants is about 18.5 Lakh tonnes of coal per day, whereas daily coal supply has been around 17.5 lakh tonnes per day.
Due to the extended monsoons, the despatches were restrained. The coal available at power plants is a rolling stock which gets replenished by supplies from the coal companies on a daily basis. Hence, any inhibition of coal stocks depleting at the power plant end is erroneous. This year, the domestic coal supply has substituted imports by substantial measure.
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Despite heavy rains in coal field regions, CIL had supplied over 255 MT coal to power sector in this year. Of the total coal supply from all sources, present coal supply from CIL to power sector is over 14 lakh tonnes per day and with receding rains, this supply has already increased to 15 lakh tonnes and is set to increase to over 16 lakh tonnes per day by end of October 2021.
The supply from SCCL and captive coal blocks shall contribute to more 3 lakhs plus tonnes of coal every day. Domestic coal supplies have supported power generation in a major way despite heavy monsoons, low coal imports and steep hike in power demand due to economic recovery. Coal supplies are set to be a record high in the current FY.
Due to high international prices of coal, supply of power even under PPAs by import based power plants has reduced by 30%. Domestic based power supply has gone up nearly 24% in H1 of this year.