NTPC wants more coal as stocks hit critical levels

Though the situation of coal stocks at power plants is believed to have improved with the seasonal fall in electricity demand with the advent of winter, state-run power generation behemoth NTPC has flagged fuel shortage at a number of its plants. In a letter dated January 12 addressed to the secretary of the power ministry, Gurdeep Singh, CMD, NTPC, said the supply shortage “is leading to generation loss on account of coal”. Cumulative generation loss at the power plants of NTPC and its joint ventures reached 10.6 billion units (BU), the letter, seen by FE, said. NTPC power plants at Mauda (2,320 MW), Farakka (2,100 MW), Kahalgaon (2,340 MW), Simhadri (2,000 MW) and Solapur (660 MW) were cited to have been facing severe coal shortage. As on January 11, all the above power plants had coal stocks which were not even sufficient to sustain for a day. NTPC power plants received 7.4 MT less coal than what was required in November and December. Stocks at thermal power plants across the country suddenly fell in August-November, with the sudden surge in demand from these stations. This happened because about 4 GW of wind, nuclear and hydel plants were not able to generate power due to climatic and maintenance isues.

NTPC Limited