10,500MW of Indian power plants close down over ‘coal shortage' woes

About 22 stations were running at critical stock as of 22 September.

Over 10,500MW of power plants in the Indian states far away from coal mines, like Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, and Chhattisgarh have shut down amidst "coal shortage," India’s Financial Express reports.

According to the report, as many as 33 power plants had fuel stock to last for less than a week. By the end of 22 September, a whopping number of 22 stations were running at such a critical phase.

This proves to be a burden as power demand has risen 12.6% YoY in the first 15 days of Q3 2019. However, domestic coal production from April-September grew 9.7% to 285 MT.

Power minister RK Singh previously said that the coal shortage is expected to remain for about three years with a rise in power demand.

A coal ministry official not named by the publication said that it is likely that some power plants are strategically shut down ‘to gainfully maximise the generation from the efficient units’ through the government’s flexi-utilisation policy. This means that thermal power plants can transfer their coal linkages to "more efficient" generation units that are near the mines.