Better coal stocks may reduce power cuts

Coal supplies appear to have improved in the last one month with 68 per cent of the power plants having stock of more than seven days, a development that could lead to lesser power cuts during the summer season.

Although the idle coal stock for a thermal power plant ranges from 20-25 days, the stock of seven days or more is the minimum requirement.

The latest data released by the power planning body Central Electricity Authority (CEA) showed that out of 77 coal-fired thermal power plants, as many as 52 stations have coal stocks for more than seven days as on March 31.

It also indicated that 61 coal-fired thermal power plants, including these 52 stations, were having the dry fuel inventories to last for more than four days.

As on February 28, the number of the coal-fired power plants facing critical stock situation (having inventories for less than seven days) were 39 compared to 25 presently.

The number of power plants facing super critical coal stock situation (having inventories to last for not more than four days) were 20 in February against 16 by March-end.

These 77 coal-fired power plants can produce up to 77,399.88 MW, which is 82.83 per cent of the total installed thermal power generation capacity of 93,475.34 MW in the country.