Coal shortage cripples 1,500 MW generation at NTPC plants

Extended summer has added to the woes of power sector, as increased demand for electricity and shortage in fuel supply has affected nearly 1,500 MW generation capacity at the plants of state-run NTPC.
According to sources, around 1,500 MW of thermal power generation of country's largest generator has been affected.
The company's five power projects are running at a lower capacity due to inadequate fuel supply from Coal India even as the demand soared in the central and northern parts of the current.
Latest official data by the Central Electricity Authority (August 26) showed that the public sector firm's Singruali plant has two days of stock and Rihand in Uttar Pradesh and Jhajjar (Haryana) have only one day of stock left.

Power production has been impacted at NTPC's power stations -- Vindhyachal, Badarpur and Dadri.
Two units (500 MW and 210 MW) of its Vindhyachal power station in Madhya Pradesh are shut due to lack of fuel from Coal India.

Similar is the situation at its Badarpur station in Haryana and Dadri in Uttar Pradesh with 2x95 MW units and 490 MW unit, respectively, closed due to fuel scarcity.
CEA data also stated that half of country's 100 thermal power plants reeled under fuel shortage mainly due to supply bottlenecks at Coal India's end.
The peak power shortfall -- deficit in electricity supply when demand is at its maximum -- in the northern region was 4,677 MW at 2000 hours, last evening (August 28), according to latest report by Northern Region Load Despatch Centre (NRLDC).

The total electricity requirement of the region during that time was 50,314 MW of which 45,637 MW was met.
NRLDC is the apex body to ensure integrated operation of the power system in the northern region.
Country's peak power deficit for July stood at 3.9 per cent as against 5.6 per cent in the same month, last year.