Singareni Collieries Company (SCCL) and Telangana GENCO (TGGENCO) have prepared an action plan to ensure the daily supply of 75,500 t of coal to thermal power plants amid rising electricity demand and complaints about inadequate supply and frequent outages. The plan combines railway and road transportation from mines in Telangana and Odisha.

Officials of both organisations reviewed the requirements of each plant during a video conference on Tuesday. Discussions covered current supplies, coal quality, railway rake availability, loading and unloading operations, and transportation difficulties affecting deliveries.

Under the plan, 56,000 t of coal will be transported daily through 14 railway rakes, while another 19,500 t will be moved by road. Plant-wise requirements were assessed at 24,000 t a day for Kothagudem, 4,500 t for Kakatiya, 15,000 t for Bhadradri and 34,000 t for Yadadri.

For Yadadri, the plan provides for 8,000 t a day through two rakes from the Naini coal block in Odisha and 36,000 t through six rakes from SCCL’s local mines. SCCL officials said measures were being taken to increase supplies from Naini, according to a press release issued by the company.

SCCL’s Marketing Department reported that 1.5 mn t of coal had been supplied to TGGENCO power plants through road and rail transport up to September 28. The corresponding figure for the same period last year was 1.14 mn t. TGGENCO officials attributed the increase in electricity demand to dry conditions associated with El Niño and said additional coal was needed to support higher generation. The meeting instructed area general managers and chief engineers to coordinate closely to resolve issues involving supply, transportation and receipt of coal.