Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi, Oct.5: Power Minister RK Singh said on Tuesday that the country’s coal shortfall has not yet resulted in a power crisis, and that there is no need for rationing at this time, claiming that output will be able to satisfy demand in the coming days.
Acknowledging that there have been some transportation concerns that a government committee is investigating, the minister stated that India’s demand for power has increased significantly, which is a good thing, but this has resulted in a large demand for coal.
“It isn’t a power crisis. We are currently serving the entire country’s demand, which is expanding. Yesterday’s demand was around 15,000 megawatts higher than the prior year’s corresponding day… that’s good news. The coal supply is something we must keep an eye on. Because coal is patched from the mines every day, it’s a continuous process. We’re keeping an eye on it on a daily basis. We have a group under Secretary Power that includes people from the Ministry of Coal, the railways, and other organisations. As a result, we are able to meet whatever demand exists,” said RK Singh.
“We had rains in the coal-bearing areas, which was an issue. There were showers in certain regions of Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and other states yesterday. Coal extraction is also impacted. But we’re dealing with it and we’re fine. We are prepared to accommodate any need that arises. The number of coal shipments has also increased. 268 rakes were dispatched yesterday. That’s an increase of 16 rakes from the day before. The dispatches will increase now that the rains have stopped,” he added.
According to reports released on Tuesday morning, India may face electricity supply challenges in the coming months due to coal shortages and a post-pandemic rise in demand.
At the end of September, India’s coal-fired power plants had an average supply of four days, the lowest in years. More than half of the plants are on high alert for disruptions, and the government is considering restarting idled power facilities.
Coal is responsible for approximately 70% of India’s electrical output, and three-quarters of the fossil fuel is mined in the country. Coal India, a state-owned company that produces the majority of the country’s supply, has stated that it is on a “war footing” to ensure adequate deliveries.
