Union Coal Minister Pralhad Joshi on Monday said there is no shortage of coal in the country and the government is constantly reviewing the situation.
Coal stocks at generating plants had depleted due to interruptions in the supply of dry fuel due to heavy rains, increased power demand, and less electricity generation by imported coal-based power plants, Joshi said in Rajya Sabha while replying to a question.
Coal stock at power plants depleted to 7.2 million tonnes (MT) (sufficient for four days) as of October 8, 2021. Subsequently, with increased coal supplies, the coal stock has started increasing and has now reached 17.29 MT (sufficient for nine days) as of November 29, the minister said.
Separately, the Indian Captive Power Producers Association (ICPPA) has requested the Centre to normalise coal supplies to captive power plant-based industries. The association also warned that if the supply of fossil fuel is not restored immediately, it would lead to irrevocable collateral damage to these national assets.
In a recent representation to the government, ICPPA highlighted the issue of insufficient coal rake supplies to CPP-based industries at levels of 40 to 50 per cent.
In the last few months, the supplies meant for CPPs and industries have been either stopped or significantly curtailed for diversion of these to the power sector, which has led to a perilous situation for other coal-based power generators, adversely impacting their industrial operations, it said in a statement.
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