Power crisis like China:Power plants have coal stock for only 4 days, electricity price jumped by 63% from last year
China like Power Crisis Power Plants Have Coal Stock For Only Four Days, Electricity Price Jumped 63% From Last Year
TPN24 Desk 
There may be a power crisis like China in the country and industrial activities may come to a standstill. Here the stock of coal with the power plants is very less for the production of electricity. About 70% of the electricity in the country is generated from coal, so there has been a sharp jump in the price of electricity. But the good news is that domestic consumers will not have to pay more for the next few months. Their electricity will be costlier only if the distribution companies get the approval of the regulator to increase the price.
At the beginning of August, there was a 13-day stock,
experts say that due to the lack of coal, if the power starts to go out, then the wheel of the fastest growing economy in the world may be jammed for some time. An alert has been issued regarding the halt in production in more than half the plants. According to government data, power plants across the country had an average of four days' coal left at the end of September, the lowest level in the year. At the beginning of August, he had a coal stock to generate electricity for 13 days.
Electricity demand has sprung up due to increased activity In
view of the shortage of coal, supply to important customers, including aluminum companies and steel mills, is being cut. In such a situation, India is also facing a challenge on two fronts like China. First, the demand for electricity has surged due to increased industrial activity after the lifting of restrictions related to Kovid. Second, there has been a sharp decline in the domestic production of coal.
Dilemma- Pay higher premium or order from abroad
About three-fourths of the country's coal requirement is met from domestic mines, but due to heavy rains, they and transport routes have been flooded. In such a situation, the dilemma before the companies running coal power plants is whether to pay a higher premium for the coal found in the auction or buy it from the foreign market, where the price is already at a record high level.
Coal stock down 76%, electricity 63% costlier
According to government data, coal stocks with coal power plants stood at about 81 million tonnes at the end of September, down about 76% from a year ago. Similarly, the average electricity price on the Indian Energy Exchange rose to Rs 4.4 per unit, up 63% from a year ago.
Meanwhile, aluminum production companies are complaining that Coal India has reduced the supply of coal to power plants by 60-80 thousand tonnes less coal. Coal Secretary Anil Kumar Jain said that the power plants are getting 60 to 80 thousand tonnes less coal every day due to waterlogging in the mines due to rain.
CIL will be able to increase the supply by the second week of October,
according to Jain, the situation has worsened due to torrential rains last month in Dhanbad, Jharkhand's important coal production center. He said the company would be able to extend the supply only by the second week of October to supply the coal required at the power plants. But it will take more time to bring the stock back to the old level.
