Regional Coal: Coal shortage to cause severe power crisis in India

India is heading for a power crisis with 16 thermal power stations facing a critical supply of coal, barely adequate to meet their requirements of not more than a week, a survey by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Assocham) has shown as reported by Statesman News Service on Wednesday.

The Assocham Eco Pulse (AEP) survey conducted across different regions found that at the end of April 2005, as many as 16 thermal power stations had coal stock of less than seven days. The power stations, which are faced with a critical level of coal supply, include Ahmedabad, Wankbori, Satpura, Korba, Nellore, Simhadri, Mettur, North Chennai, Barauni, Kehalgaon, Kolaghat, Bakreshwar, Durgapur, Farakka, Talcher.

Korba, Kahalgaon & Farraka Super Thermal Power Stations and Simdhari, Bakreswar Thermal Power Stations had coal supply of more than 100 per cent of linkage but are included in the critical list due to high consumption and low linkage.

Each of the thermal stations is attached with a particular coal mine for receiving a fixed quota of supply. This is what is known as the ?linkage? in the power sector. Against a stock of 19 million tonne, the power stations are left with nine million tonne facing a shortage of 10 million tonne. The gap needs to be filled by imports.

?The government should facilitate and expedite coal imports so that the power situation does not go from bad to worse,? Assocham president, Mahendra K Sanghi, said commenting on the AEP study.(*)