Coal crunch pulls down generation at NTPC Kaniha

Power generation at National Thermal Power Corporation's (NTPC) 3000 MW Kaniha plant, the country's second biggest power plant, has drastically gone down in September  due to coal crunch.

According to NTPC sources, a 500 MW unit has been shut down since the beginning of this month for want of coal. Similarly, another 500 MW unit which was closed three days back for the same reason is yet to be restored.

Average power generation at the super thermal power station is presently in the range of 1000-1800 MW against a normal output of 2500-3000 MW. Plant Load Factor (PLF) of the coal-fired station did not exceed 50%.

NTPC's power station is suffering owing to inadequate coal supplies from Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL).

Against a daily requirement of 55,000 tonnes of coal, the power station received only 25,000-30,000 tonnes from MCL, impairing production, said an NTPC source. The power station had only a day's stock of coal.

Coal despatch from the linked Lingaraj coal mines remained much less than demand due to shortfall in mine output this month. MCL authorities attributed the slump in production to incessant rain.

The power plant draws coal from its linked Lingaraj mine at Talcher and also from other coal mines. It also imports coal to meet its requirement.