Power Cuts in the AP State again?

The insufficient coal supply to the thermal power stations in the AP state is hampering power production. Krishnapatnam Thermal Power plant that was commissioned few days ago shuts down its production due to this problem. Vijayawada plant and Rayalaseema plant have reduced their power production for the same reasons.

While, the power plants have reduced the power production, the demand for power supply steeply rises from earlier 120 million units a day to 144.8 million units a day during last one week period due to sudden rise of temperatures across the state. Though, there are sufficient power plants in the state, they are unable to produce power due to this coal shortage. Vijayawada Thermal plant that has 1760 mw capacity is producing only 1268 mw now. Rayalaseema Thermal plant is producing 712 mw as against its capacity 1050 mw due to this coal shortage problem.

The thermal power stations in the state consumes 45,000 tons of coal every day when works in their full capacity. The present coal stocks are sufficient for just ten days production. So, they are forced to reduce the production until sufficient coal stocks are arranged. The coal supplies from Mahanadi coal fields’ drops to 58 per cent during the last few weeks due to heavy demand from other states. The officials of Mahanadi coal fields have assured the AP state for increase of coal supplies at least 15 to 20 per cent in the next few days.

Hence, the AP Energy department wrote a letter to Coal India requesting to allot 1 lakh tons of coal from the Western Coal Fields at the earliest. CM Chandrababu Naidu also brings this matter to Union Coal and Energy Ministers’ notice and seeks their help.

If, there is any disruption in power production due to this coal shortage, it would be a setback for the 24x7 power supply pilot project granted to the state and also provides an opportunity to the opposition parties to criticize the state government. Since, the state government can’t let the power plants reduce the production, it has arrange sufficient coal supplies at any cost.