The Maharashtra State Power Generation Company Limited (MahaGenco) has been hit by coal shortages.
The 1,130 MW Parli thermal power station in Beed district has coal inventories that will last for less than two days. Most other power stations, excluding the one at Nashik, have stocks to last for just around a week. However, Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd (MahaVitaran) officials in Pune feel the city will not face a major problem.
A MahaVitaran official said all decisions regarding power distribution are taken by the head office and if there is any power shortage, the issue will be fixed at the state level. Either the power will be obtained from the national grid or the coal will be obtained, he explained.
Officials from Mahagenco said they saw no reason to worry as wagons carrying coal were expected to reach the power stations any time.
The public relations officer of MahaGenco, Mahesh Aphale said, “We normally keep stock of one week at every thermal power generation plant and as of now only Parali plant does not have sufficient stock. The situation has arisen as the railway wagons carrying coal have not reached Parali power station in time.”
The MahaGenco has 9,737 MW capacity and coal-based thermal power as its backbone (6,480 MW).
This is followed by capacity in the hydro sector (2,585 MW) and gas (672 MW). The utility is also in the process of commissioning an additional 1,500 MW capacity at Bhusawal and Khaparkheda.
The 500 MW Paras plant, has stocks for just 6.5 days, while the Khaparkheda thermal power station (840 MW) has just 7 days coal stocks. The 420 MW Bhusawal power station has stocks to last for just 7.5 days. The Chandrapur super thermal power station (CSTPS), which has the largest 2,340 MW capacity, has a coal inventory for 7.6 days (as against the normative stock requirement of 20 days) while the 620 MW units at Koradi are in a marginally better position with 7.8 days stocks. However, the 630 MW Nashik thermal power station has stocks for 21.5 days.
A senior MahaGenco official said in case the supply of rakes carrying coal was delayed due to emergencies, the low stocks were likely to affect generation at these power plants especially since summer demand was expected to pick up. The MahaGenco expects getting 11 rakes of coal on Saturday and another 20 rakes on Sunday. On Friday, the utility had received 19 rakes. (With inputs by Dhaval Kulkarni)
