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Power crisis looms large as thermal stns starve for coal
The coal shortage situation that has been brewing across the country’s thermal power stations has taken a turn for the worse, with at least six major thermal power stations across the country reporting that they have run out of coal stocks.
To worsen matters, the import option for the country's utilities is increasingly getting tougher as China, which is also facing low domestic reserves and acute power shortage, has stepped up coal purchases internationally. The resultant rise in the global spot prices of coal, which have shot up to over $140 per tonne in Australia and above $125 per tonne in South Africa, is further styming plans by Indian utilities to use imported coal to tide over shortages. According to official sources, NTPC has been unable to make any substantial coal imports in April and May despite the looming shortage situation.
Power utilities in the Northern and the Eastern region have been worst affected by the coal shortages. Besides NTPC stations, the other utilities that have been badly hit include Andhra Pradesh Power Generation Company Ltd (the 1,260 MW Dr N Tata Rao and 840 MW Rayalaseema thermal stations) and DVC's 340 MW Durgapur and West Bengal SEB's 450 MW Bandel station are among those that have run out of coal stocks.
Thermal stations are normally expected to hold coal stocks of between 15 and 30 days, depending on the location of the project. While pithead stations should hold stocks of 15 days or more, stations located away from the mine are expected to hold coal stocks for 21 to 30 days.
