Power generation to be hit hard if coal strike continues

Electricity generation may be hit severely if the ongoing coal strike continues for another two days, Power Ministry officials said today.
The five-day coal strike entered its second day today.
Out of the 100 coal-based power plants in the country, 42 had supplies of less than seven days left as on January 1, while 20 of them had coal stock for up to four days only, according to the Central Electricity Authority (CEA).
"At present there is no impact of Coal India Ltd (CIL) strike at our plants. We received coal from the PSU yesterday and we also have stocks, but if the strike continues (power) generation may get affected," said a senior official at state electricity utility, NTPC.

The five-day strike, call for which has been given by all five major unions of CIL employees, entered its second day today, resulting in stoppage of mining at 290 out of 438 mines. It has severely impacted the coal production of CIL, which meets more than 80 per cent of the country's coal demand.
The unions, which represent about 3.4 lakh mine workers of CIL and thousands of contractual workers, began their strike on January 6 to protest against what they call the attempts for "denationalisation of coal mining" and disinvestment of government stake in CIL.

Power Ministry officials said that supply situation "as of now is okay", but there could be problem if the strike continues for next one or two days.

CEA said that fuel supplies by CIL and its subsidiaries at some of thermal power plants is less than the annual contracted quantity (ACQ).
These plants include state-run NTPC's Badarpur (Delhi), Rihand, Singruali, Tanda and Unchahar in Uttar Pradesh is lesser than the ACQ.
Panipat, Rajiv Gandhi and Indira Gandhi thermal power stations in Haryana, Rajpura in Punjab and five plants in Maharashtra received less coal from CIL and its subsidiaries on that day, the data said. These plants include Chandrapur, Khaparkheda, Parli, Paras and Amravati stations.
Southern region plants were also impacted. Dr N T Rama Rao thermal power project in Andhra Pradesh, Raichur and Bellary in Karnataka and North Chennai plant in Tamil Nadu also had less receipts from CIL and subsidiaries, the data said.