The main reasons for coal shortages are inadequate coal supply from CIL, over generation at some plants and awaiting coal allocations
Five power utilities fail to import coal
Yogindra Mohan

Patiala

Five power utilities in the country have failed to import any coal during the current financial year despite clear instructions from the Union power ministry.

According to Central Electricity Authority (CEA) report the anticipated gap between the requirement and availability of domestic coal was estimated around 54 million tons (MT). Out of estimated shortage of 54 MT, 35 MT of coal was to be met through import of coal, for which all the utilities were asked to take necessary action and the balance 20 MT of coal was the requirements of power plants designed on imported coal.

Out of 25 power utilities, five utilities namely UPPCL, DVC, TATA, CSEB and Mundra are failed to import any coal despite zero or critical coal stocks at their thermal power stations. The Damodar Valley Corporation was required to import 1.37 MT but failed to do so despite the facts that two thermal units at Durgapur steel plant and Kodarama were synchronized last year and are lying idle for the want of coal. Coal India is yet to start supply of indigenous coal for these two plants. Mundra Ultra Mega Power Plant also failed to import its target of 1.7 MT coal.

Seven utilities procured imported coal of more than 100 per cent pro-rata target up to January this year. Even the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC), the major power supplier in the country, has procured 82 per cent of imported coal target.

Meanwhile coal stock position at various thermal plants continued to remain critical. The coal stock of 36 thermal plants across country was critical with less than seven days stock as on February 22. Out of these 26 thermal plants were having coal stock of less than four days. The main reasons for coal shortages are inadequate coal supply from Coal India Limited, over generation at some plants and awaiting coal allocations.