30 power plants have coal for more than 30 days: CEA

NTPC's 2,600 MW thermal project at Ramagundam project only plant that has less than four days of fuel stock

Coal stock position in power plants is apparently comfortable as on August 13 with nearly 30 plants having fuel for more than 30 days, compared to the grim situation in the same period last year, as per CEA data.

While another 18 plants have coal for more than 20 days, the situation is grim only in one plant that has coal for only for 4 days.

As per Central Electricity Authority (CEA) data, 10 thermal power stations have coal for more than 15 days  while another 22 have stocks for more than 10 days as on Augutst 13.

NTPC's 2,600 MW thermal project at Ramagundam project is the only plant that has less than four days of fuel stock.

This situation was alarming in the same period last year, with as many as 18 power stations struggling with less than four days of coal, according to the official data said.

Last year on August 13, 31 stations had fuel stock for less than a week. The number has improved vastly to only five stations this year on the same date.

"There are various reasons for this phenomenon including increased hydro power production due to good monsoon and lesser demand of costlier coal from domestic sources," a Power Ministry official said.

He added that some of the coal mines like Korea-Rewa produce higher grade coal which is costlier than the coal produced at other domestic coal mines.

Some states including Gujarat were unable to get generation schedule for their stations as there were no consumers for the expensive electricity generated from those plants which led to piling of coal stocks, he added.

Meanwhile, another CEA data stated that the peak power deficit -- the shortage in power supply -- in the country declined to 4.5% in July from 5.8% in June, this year. The primary reason for the same is good monsoon.

The total power demand of the region during July was 1,984 MW, of which 1,973 MW was met, the data said.

The current installed power capacity of the country stands at over 2,11,000 MW of which thermal contributes 1,41,713 MW and hydro 39,416 MW.