India extends operation of imported coal-based power plants until Oct 15

The plants were initially allowed to operate until June 30.

The Indian government on April 13 said that it has extended a mandate on imported coal-based power plants to operate at full capacity until October 15 to meet the likely high demand for electricity as summer and heatwaves arrive.

The government has also extended the emergency clause of the Electricity Act, 2003, mandating imported coal-based power plants to run on their full capacity till October 31, 2024, instead of June 30.

The order invoked an emergency clause available to the government in directing the companies, including Tata Power and Adani Power, operating such imported coal-fired plants with a capacity of nearly 16 gigawatts to continue operations.

The plants were initially allowed to operate until June 30.

India registered an 8 percent rise in electricity consumption in the financial year that ended last month, and demand is expected to rise in the hot summer months.

Bloomberg earlier reported that government officials now expect electricity demand to surge to a high of 384 gigawatts in the 12 months through March 2032, a 5% increase on an estimate issued in May, according to people familiar with the details.

A review of forecasts was carried out after a sharp rise in demand last year, when searing temperatures prompted higher use of air conditioners and pumps for irrigation, said the people, who requested anonymity as they were not authorized to speak publicly.

(With inputs from agencies)