Steps to enhance coal supply to Power Stations

Rajya Sabha

The coal supply position of thermal power stations in the country is not comfortable. As on 6th July 2009, out of total 78 coal based utility thermal power stations monitored by Central Electricity Authority on daily basis, 31 power stations were ‘critical’ having a coal stock of less than 7 days, out of which 10 power stations were ‘supercritical’ having a coal stock of less than 4 days. The All India Coal Stock was 11.055 Million Tonne (MT) against a normative requirement of 22 MT.

The following steps are being taken by the Government of India to enhance supply of coal to power stations:

Regular monitoring of supply of coal to Thermal Power Stations for optimizing coal supply to the power stations from various sources.

Import of coal to the tune of 28.7 MT has been envisaged during 2009-10 to bridge the gap between requirement of coal and its availability from the domestic sources.

New coal blocks are being allocated by the Ministry of Coal to power producers / utilities for captive mining to meet requirement of their power plants.

This information was given by Shri Bharatsinh Solanki, Minister of State, Ministry of Power in a written reply to a question by Shri Mohd. Ali Khan in the Rajya Sabha today.

PRA/SKK