Indian Coal Supply to Power Plants Set to Normalise Soon
COAL & MINING

Indian Coal Supply to Power Plants Set to Normalise Soon

Coal supplies to Indian power plants are likely to normalise soon as daily deliveries have reached a record 2.6 mn t, a senior power ministry official said on Thursday. The increase follows disruptions caused by scattered rains in mining areas and includes deliveries to NTPC, the country’s largest power generator.

The number of plants holding critically low coal stocks nevertheless rose to 96 on October 19 from 60 in mid-September, data from the Central Electricity Authority showed. Such plants have enough fuel to generate electricity for fewer than three days, leaving the power system exposed to further interruptions in mining or transport.

The official attributed additional pressure on coal-fired generation to reduced hydropower use. The El Niño weather pattern has affected rainfall, lowering the contribution from hydroelectric stations and increasing reliance on coal units to meet demand.

Daily peak electricity demand has increased by about 45 to 50 GW from a year earlier. Hotter weather and higher industrial production have driven the rise, intensifying the need for dependable fuel supplies as power stations manage higher operating requirements.

The federal power ministry has allocated additional electricity to Gujarat, India’s leading industrial state. The official said the state faced no power or coal shortage, after a report that factories had been asked to reduce electricity use during evening hours to avoid shortages caused by surging demand. Gujarat state authorities declined to comment on that report.

Coal supplies to Indian power plants are likely to normalise soon as daily deliveries have reached a record 2.6 mn t, a senior power ministry official said on Thursday. The increase follows disruptions caused by scattered rains in mining areas and includes deliveries to NTPC, the country’s largest power generator. The number of plants holding critically low coal stocks nevertheless rose to 96 on October 19 from 60 in mid-September, data from the Central Electricity Authority showed. Such plants have enough fuel to generate electricity for fewer than three days, leaving the power system exposed to further interruptions in mining or transport. The official attributed additional pressure on coal-fired generation to reduced hydropower use. The El Niño weather pattern has affected rainfall, lowering the contribution from hydroelectric stations and increasing reliance on coal units to meet demand. Daily peak electricity demand has increased by about 45 to 50 GW from a year earlier. Hotter weather and higher industrial production have driven the rise, intensifying the need for dependable fuel supplies as power stations manage higher operating requirements. The federal power ministry has allocated additional electricity to Gujarat, India’s leading industrial state. The official said the state faced no power or coal shortage, after a report that factories had been asked to reduce electricity use during evening hours to avoid shortages caused by surging demand. Gujarat state authorities declined to comment on that report.

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