Punjab Power resolves supply issue with Panem coal mines

Six coal rakes were loaded on Wednesday and the same quantum of supply would be maintained daily by PSPCL

Punjab State Power Corporation Limited Chairman and Managing Director K D Chaudhuri said the issue of coal supply with Panem mines has been resolved and normal supply has been assured by the firm. Six coal rakes were loaded on Wednesday and the same quantum of supply would be maintained daily by the firm. Coal India Limited had already been supplying more coal rakes per day for the normal operations of PSPCL's thermal plants.

Panem has been insisting on revising coal rates. The supplier is reportedly seeking an increase of Rs 300 per tonne of coal. Giving details of the decision, Chaudhuri said it has been agreed to provide Rs 6-crores interest bearing advance on a daily basis and an interest bearing of Rs 100 per metric tonne to the firm. Hailing the decision, he said this would result in giving no financial burden to consumers whilst ensuring normal coal supply.

Chaudhuri said PSPCL has been maintaining uninterrupted power supply to all category of consumers. He said hydel power generation has been better this year owing to higher water levels in reservoirs of dams.

He said PSPCL has made sufficient arrangement of power and with increased hydel power generation this year, there will be no shortage of power for paddy sowing. He added that Pujab State Power Corporation would ensure eight hours power supply to farmers in Punjab. He said there will be no power cut this summer except outage if any on account of maintenance or fault in transmission and distribution system.