States scramble to avoid power restrictions

Many power stations are facing a coal shortage with a fall in supply

The power utilities in most southern States are staring at coal shortage and scrambling to avoid power restrictions. Majority of the thermal power plants in various States were running with stocks sufficient only for three to four days against having reserve stocks to last for at least two to three weeks in the past.

In Tamil Nadu, the State power generating stations were maintaining an average 4 to 4.5 days of coal and the power officials were confident that they would be able to maintain this coal stock in the future. A senior official of the Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (Tangedco) said the State had been receiving coal in limited supply, with power stations maintaining a cumulative average of four days’ stock. He said the normal coal stock maintained by Tangedco would usually be nine to 10 days. As of Sunday, more than five days of coal stock was available in north Chennai, three days in Mettur and five days in Thoothukudi. Tangedco has three thermal stations, with a total capacity of 4,320 mega watt.