Coal stock sufficient, fear of power supply disruption 'entirely misplaced': Centre

The Central government on Sunday assured that sufficient coal stock was available in the country to meet the demand of electricity generating plants and stressed that any fear of disruption in the power supply was "entirely misplaced".

The statement comes in the wake of reports that warned of a power crisis looming large due to the coal shortage in the country.

Pralhad Joshi, Union Minister of Coal, tweeted: "Reviewed coal production & supply situation in the country. Assuring everyone that there is absolutely no threat of disruption in the power supply. There is sufficient coal stock of 43 million tonnes with @CoalIndiaHQ equivalent to 24 days coal demand."

Power consumption dipped by nearly 2 percent or by 72 million units (MU) to 3,828 MU on Saturday compared to 3,900 MU on Friday, showing slight improvement in the supply situation across the country, the Power Ministry data showed. According to the data, the power consumption of 3,900 MU on Friday was the highest this month so far (from October 1 to 9), which also became a cause of concern among the ongoing coal shortage crisis in the country.

Power Ministry has listed four reasons for the depletion of coal stocks at the power plants - unprecedented increase in demand of electricity due to revival of economy; heavy rains in coal mine areas during September impacting production as well as despatch; increase in prices of imported coal to unprecedented high-level leading; and non-building of adequate coal stocks before the onset of Monsoon.

The Power Ministry said that an inter-ministerial sub-group led by the Ministry of Coal has been monitoring the coal stock situation twice a week.