28 power stations battling coal crunch

23 MAY, 2012, PTI
NEW DELHI: Grim fuel stock position has affected country's thermal power projects, with almost 28 stations battling less than seven days of coal supplies during the past three weeks.

According to latest data (May 20) by the Central Electricity Authority (CEA), on an average 28 power stations (from May 1-May 20), faced critical fuel supply position, with less than seven days of stock.

The situation was worse on May 9 and May 10, when 31 power stations were left with less than seven-day stock.

The power generation from the Mahatama Gandhi thermal power station at Jhajjar in Haryana stopped on May 7 due to non-availability of coal. The plant still remains shut on account of shortage of fuel, the data showed.

"There is no clarity on signing the fuel supply agreement with Coal India, we are losing out on the generation capacity," a CLP Power official told a reporter, adding that, "I would not like to discuss the financial details."

"Trying to see what we can do, since there is no coal allocation for us in the month of May," he added.

Various power generation companies have refused to sign FSAs with Coal India as they felt that the minimum penalty clause was too less and would not serve the purpose.

Of the 28 stations, 14 on an average suffered acute coal shortage of less than four days on account of either less receipt of fuel or inadequate coal allocation.

Ironically, the power generation on May 20, was 2.82 per cent higher than projected, as per the official data.

Power generation is calculated keeping all the sources -- coal, gas, hydro, wind etc -- in mind.

The country's peak power deficit -- shortfall in generation capacity during the time when the electricity consumption is the maximum -- touched 10,876 MW in April, according to the official data.

Data compiled by the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) showed that total power generation capacity was just 1,17,124 MW last month, whereas the demand was pegged at 1,28,000 MW.

The situation at the thermal plants, which account for majority of electricity produced in India, is likely to stay the same during the current month as well.

The Power Ministry expects to generate around 9,20,000 MUs of electricity this fiscal. Out of the total, 7,60,000 MUs would be from coal-based plants. The government might also import 5,000 MUs of electricity from Bhutan.