A. Harikumar
A few states in central and north India seem to have been hit by power outages following increased consumption and inadequate generation resulting from shortage of coal, which is the major fuel that fires a majority of electricity generating units in the country.
Reports said Punjab and Uttar Pradesh have already been hit by power shortage. The southern state of Andhra Pradesh is also feeling the shortage. The onset of summer has increased power consumption across the country, as more and more people turn on their air conditioners and air coolers. Indian summer are known to be notoriously hot with temperatures often shooting up to around 45 degree Celsius, or even more.
Coal accounts for almost 70 percent of India’s electricity generation in the country. Shortage of rail rakes used for transporting coal and low imports of coal are pointed out to be the reasons for decreasing coal stocks. According to power ministry’s data, the coal stock available with major power producers will suffice for around nine days only.
Quoting Maharashtra power minister Nitin Raut, national media said 12 states in the country are having energy issues. Though the public sector Coal India has increased production, that is not sufficient to satisfy the ballooning demand. Meanwhile, a Coal India press release said it has increased coal production by around 27 percent. The power generation in the country has also increased by 9.5 percent compared to previous year. However, the demand is outstripping the generation. Meanwhile, there are reports that India is on its way to increase import of coal from Russia. Moscow has offered to provide coal to India at discounted rates.
India’s three most industrialised states; Gujarat, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu are reportedly planning to import more than 10 million MT of coal. These three states account for around 1/3rd of India’s energy demand.
