Govt forms Secretary-level team to address low coal stock in thermal power plants

• Thermal power plants have been intimated to send their requests for priority loading and coal supply issues at a centralised email fmdiv.cea@gov.in
• The current situation of the low coal stocks in certain thermal power plants is being closely monitored by the Ministry of Power

New Delhi: The Ministry of Power has formed a core management team (CMT) comprising of representatives from the ministry, the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) and Coal India Ltd (CIL) to address the problem of low coal stock in certain thermal power plants and undertake monitoring on a daily basis, said an official statement on Saturday. Power Secretary Alok Kumar has also held a review meeting in this regard on August 27 to take stock of the coal supply position. "The power plants have been intimated to send their requests for priority loading and coal supply issues at a centralised email fmdiv.cea@gov.in, so as to enable taking up the matter with the concerned authorities," said the statement.

The current situation of the low coal stocks in certain thermal power plants is being closely monitored by the Ministry of Power. As per the standard operating procedures, coal supply issues are taken up in the weekly meeting of sub-group comprising of representatives from CEA, Ministry of Coal, Ministry of Power, Railways, coal companies and power utilities to ensure uninterrupted supply of coal.

Low coal stock in thermal power plants

It has also been decided that wherever coal stock is more than 14 days' requirements of the thermal power plants, the coal supply will be regulated to these power plants for the next seven days. The freed-up coal will be supplied to the plants under super-critical category first and thereafter, to critical category plants, so that an equitable distribution of coal stocks across all power plants is maintained, said the ministry.

Production from producing captive coal mines will be enhanced to reduce dependence on coal supply from CIL. Producing captive coal mines will be mapped with the inter-linked thermal power plants and coal supply to these TPPs from CIL will be reduced.

The CMT is closely monitoring the coal stocks in thermal power plants on a daily basis and ensuring follow up actions with CIL and the Railways to improve coal supply to power plants. After few days of monitoring, another meeting has been scheduled on August 31 to review and monitor the progress. The Power Secretary, Coal Secretary and Member (Traffic), Railways, will review the situation in the meeting.

Rise in power demand impacted coal stocks

A shortage of coal in certain thermal power stations has been reported due to various reasons, including an increase in power demand on account of opening up of the economy throughout the country and less generation from hydro-power plants which is currently being met by coal-based power generation. The maximum peak demand of 200 GW was observed in July and now it is hovering around 192-193 GW. Historically, maximum demand is observed in the month of September.

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