Maharashtra seeks coal, gas to avoid generation loss

Maharashtra has made a fresh appeal to the Centre for the availability of adequate coal and gas to keep the power plants running in order to meet the rising demand, especially in view of scanty rainfall.

The state government, during the meeting convened by the Planning Commission on Tuesday, informed 25 per cent shortfall in coal supplies had led to generation loss while the shortage has also impacted gas-based Uran and Ratnagiri power projects.

A senior state government official, who was present at Tuesday' meeting, told Business Standard: “During the last financial year, the Maharashtra State Power generation Company (MahaGenco) expected coal availability of 39.50 million tonne (mt) against which only 29.58 mt was supplied by the domestic coal companies. For the upcoming power plant with total generation capacity of 2,000 Mw, the coal ministry has sanctioned a long-term coal linkage from Mahanadi Coalfields. However, it has yet to sign memorandum of understanding and fuel supply agreement for coal supply.”

The government also called upon the Centre to urgently put in place fuel supply agreement in place which takes care of state generating utilities, he said.

Furthermore, there has been a major gas shortage to the existing Uran plant and Ratnagiri project due to a shortfall in production level of administered price mechanism gas and gas supplied by Reliance Industries from KG D6. “We have made a request for a fresh allocation of 5.4 million metric standard cubic meter per day of gas for MahaGenco’s proposed Uran expansion project,” the official said.

According to the official, Maharashtra has been able to reduce the demand supply gap to only 500 to 1,000 Mw during the 11 th five year Plan from 4,500 Mw in 2007-08. This has resulted in 70 per cent of Maharashtra having 24x7 power supply.

“We are now moving towards a load-shedding-free period with reliable and quality power supply. The state distribution utility, MahaVitaran, has signed power purchase agreements to the tune of 19,794 Mw and this additional capacity will be available in stages during 12 th Plan,” the official informed.