India is increasing coal shipments by
rail to power plants after fuel inventories at several
generators fell to critically low levels, the coal ministry said
on Monday.
* The increase in rail shipments comes as the number of
power plants holding less than 25% of required coal inventories
has risen in recent weeks.
* The number of plants with coal stocks below 25% of their
required inventory or with critically low stocks to generate
power for less than three days has risen sharply to 58 by
September 5 from 46 at the end of August.
* Of the affected plants, 53 are domestic coal-fired plants,
according to data on the website of Central Electricity
Authority, a think tank linked to the federal power ministry.
* “The number of critical thermal plants is being closely
monitored, with corrective coal supply measures already in place
to further ease the position at these plants,” the coal ministry
said.
* A surge in coal dispatches from state-run Coal India, its
subsidiaries, and private mines has helped lift supplies, with
loading rising every day since September 3, the government said.
* Coal loading to power plants increased to 444 unit trains
or rakes on September 6 from 370 on September 3, according to
government data released on Monday.
* Heavy rainfall in some of the key coal-rich Indian states,
including Odisha, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh, has hit mining and
slowed the transportation of the fuel for power plants.
* Coal accounts for about three-quarters of India’s
electricity generation, making uninterrupted fuel supplies
crucial for maintaining grid reliability.
* Coal India, the world’s largest coal miner, said it
continues to hold adequate stock of 76 million tons of coal at
its pitheads.