KSEBOA - KSEB Officers' Association

Share this Twitter Digg Del.icio.us Slashdot Furl Yahoo Technorati Newsvine Googlize this Blinklist Facebook Wikio Hear this text Export PDF Print E-mail

Generation loss of 9 billion units has taken place till December at various thermal plants of the country due to coal shortages as per Central Electricity Authority (CEA) report. CEA has expressed deep concern over the prevailing coal supply situation at the coal-based thermal power stations of the country. The depleted coal stock levels are severely affecting the actual generation at such plants.

According to CEA, out of the 77 thermal power stations it monitored, 41 had critical coal stock levels. The coal supply to these thermal plants is effected by less supply of coal by Central coalfields Ltd.

Even today there are 41 thermal plants in the country where coal stock is less than 7 days against requirements of 25 days.
This includes 22 thermal plants where coal stock is less than three days. In northern region Lehra Mohabatt thermal plant is
amongst five plants where coal stock is less than three days and comes under super critical category.

CEA has asked the power utilities to go for imported coal to tide over the crisis. CEA has set a target of 20 million tones for the year 2008-09 but only 11 MT million tones had been imported till December. CEA has expressed its unhappiness on the failure of some state-owned power utilities, Punjab State Electricity Board to place orders for any imported coal.It may be mentioned that PSEB has burnt its fingers twice by importing coal . First time it went for Australian coal and second time it went for Chinese coal. Both times PSEB had to short close the order and face vigilance enquiry.

CEA had requested Ministry of coal to allocate at least 318 million tones from CIL sources, anticipating availability of 30
million tones of coal from SCCL and 20 million tones from captive mines, while the remaining 36 MT was due to be imported from overseas colliers.

According to sources Coal India Limited has indicated that it would be able to supply only 312 million tones during 2009-10, and the balance has to be met by augmenting imports by 4 million tones. In view of the critical coal stock position in the country, CIL has now been entrusted with the responsibility to import the additional coal to match the projected demand-supply.


News - Punjabnewsline