Coal shortage at major thermal plants of the country continues
VINOD KUMAR GUPTA
Wednesday, 01 July 2009
Lehra Mohabatt plant has three days coal stock
CHANDIGARH: There seems to be no end in sight for coal supply shortages for major thermal power stations across the country including Punjab.
According to sources 30 thermal stations were facing critical coal stocks levels, which can sustain operations in these plants for less than seven days. More deplorably, the coal stock position in 12 large stations has been found to be super-critical, with stocks expected to last less than four days.
In the northern region 920 MW Lehra Mohabatt thermal plants in Punjab comes under super critical category. The coal stock at Lehra Mohabatt thermal plant 55170 MT and is just sufficient for three days. 1260 MW Ropar thermal plant is amongst those plants where coal stock is critical as the coal stock is 119936 MT sufficient for five days.
According to a senior official normally before the onset of monsoon the coal stock at thermal plants should be sufficient for one month. The coal transportation to thermal plants is hampered in the rainy season and flooding of coal mines.
In the neighboring Haryana 1360 MW Panipat thermal plant has coal stock of 134000 MT sufficient for five days. In Rajashthan Kota and Suratgarh thermal plants have coal stock of 4 days.
According to sources factors such as lower coal production by Coal India Limited, inadequate linkages and unloading constraints, among others have been, predominantly, responsible for such precarious conditions at a number of thermal plants in the country.
Some of plants facing super-critical stock levels include super-thermal station like NTPC`s 3000 MW Talcher station in Orissa. On the other hand, NTPC`s 1840 MW Kahalgaon plant in Bihar, DVC`s 1340 MW Mejia power station in West Bengal and Reliance Power`s 500 MW Dahanu power plant in Maharashtra are having to put up with critical coal stock levels.
Meanwhile the coal requirement during the year 2009-10 has been pegged at some 404 million tones. Out of this 404 MT coal requirement CEA has presumed that about 399 MT of coal would be supplied indigenously .However the actual domestic availability has been pegged at 363 MT by Coal India Ltd. leaving a gap of 36.8 MT. The balance coal quantity is likely to be imported by power utilities.
Source: http://www.punjabnewsline.com/content/view/17498/38/
VINOD KUMAR GUPTA
Wednesday, 01 July 2009
Lehra Mohabatt plant has three days coal stock
CHANDIGARH: There seems to be no end in sight for coal supply shortages for major thermal power stations across the country including Punjab.
According to sources 30 thermal stations were facing critical coal stocks levels, which can sustain operations in these plants for less than seven days. More deplorably, the coal stock position in 12 large stations has been found to be super-critical, with stocks expected to last less than four days.
In the northern region 920 MW Lehra Mohabatt thermal plants in Punjab comes under super critical category. The coal stock at Lehra Mohabatt thermal plant 55170 MT and is just sufficient for three days. 1260 MW Ropar thermal plant is amongst those plants where coal stock is critical as the coal stock is 119936 MT sufficient for five days.
According to a senior official normally before the onset of monsoon the coal stock at thermal plants should be sufficient for one month. The coal transportation to thermal plants is hampered in the rainy season and flooding of coal mines.
In the neighboring Haryana 1360 MW Panipat thermal plant has coal stock of 134000 MT sufficient for five days. In Rajashthan Kota and Suratgarh thermal plants have coal stock of 4 days.
According to sources factors such as lower coal production by Coal India Limited, inadequate linkages and unloading constraints, among others have been, predominantly, responsible for such precarious conditions at a number of thermal plants in the country.
Some of plants facing super-critical stock levels include super-thermal station like NTPC`s 3000 MW Talcher station in Orissa. On the other hand, NTPC`s 1840 MW Kahalgaon plant in Bihar, DVC`s 1340 MW Mejia power station in West Bengal and Reliance Power`s 500 MW Dahanu power plant in Maharashtra are having to put up with critical coal stock levels.
Meanwhile the coal requirement during the year 2009-10 has been pegged at some 404 million tones. Out of this 404 MT coal requirement CEA has presumed that about 399 MT of coal would be supplied indigenously .However the actual domestic availability has been pegged at 363 MT by Coal India Ltd. leaving a gap of 36.8 MT. The balance coal quantity is likely to be imported by power utilities.
Source: http://www.punjabnewsline.com/content/view/17498/38/
