--------------------------------------------------------------------------------DAILY POST

Coal shortage to hit upcoming thermal plants in the state hard

as per the assessment, three thermal projects are likely to be commissioned in the fiscal of 2013-14 at Goindwal Sahib, Talwandi Sabo and Rajpura.
port. CEA which monitors 89 thermal plants across country in its report of September 4 points out the overall coal stock has declined to about eight days against the normative stock requirement of 22 days. The coal stocks at 30 power stations of the country with a less than a week stock comes under critical category and out of these 19 power stations having less than four days stock is under super critical category. Currently, many plants are running at sub-optimal plant load factor levels.
The supply of coal in adequate quantity remains a key concern for the management of new plants in Punjab. DP
DP Correspondent

Patiala

The coal shortage will be a major problem for new upcoming projects in Punjab as there is no surplus coal with the Coal India Limited (CIL) at the moment. “The coal is going to be a major concern,” said a senior official associated with a thermal power plant coming up in the state. Three thermal projects are expected to be commissioned in the financial year of 2013-14. These thermal projects include 570 megawatt (MW) at Goindwal Sahib, 1,980 MW at Talwandi Sabo and 1,400 MW at Rajpura. In addition to these projects, the 2,640 MW thermal project at Gidderbaha has been allotted to the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC). The state government has also proposed a thermal project near Mukerian in the state sector.

For the power plant at Talwandi Sabo, the coal has to be supplied from Basundra coal fields. The private company is yet to enter fuel supply agreement with CIL. For the plant at Rajpura, the coal linkage from Korba Raigarh fields was given for original capacity. Additional coal linkage has been sought. For Goindwal Sahib captive coal mines in Takisud north block is there and the work of providing railway siding is going on at present. The NTPC has not started any work for Gidderbaha thermal plant as there was no coal linkage and the project may be slipped to the 13th plan period, starting 2017.

According to official sources, the CIL has committed to supply 347 million tonne (MT) coal to power sector projects as per the fuel supply agreement and 42 MT coal as per memorandum of understanding (MoU) made during 2012-13. It may not be possible to enhance coal supply beyond these levels. Last year, CIL supplied 312 MT against the target of 328.21 mn tonne for power utilities. In view of above the coal supply may be a major problem for the upcoming thermal projects in Punjab. “This coal shortage problem will also be faced by those plants that already have coal supply agreements,” added the sources. The plants will have to make do with what they have since there is no extra coal available for replenishing stocks. The coal imports are likely to double by the end of this five year plan. Specifically, from the existing 90 MT imports are expected to reach a level of 180 MT by 2016-17.

The average coal stock in thermal plants of the country has declined to just eight days as per latest report of Central Electricity Authority (CEA) re