The strike by Central Coalfields Ltd (CCL) transporters has started affecting coal supplies to different thermal plants run by the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) at a time when Punjab needs additional power supplies in view of paddy sowing.
As per norms adopted by thermal plants, the stock position should be comfortable for 30 days. However, only 13 days coal stock was available at Lehra Mohabbat Thermal plant. Similarly, the Guru Nanak Dev Thermal plant at Bathinda had stock that will last 20 days and Ropar Thermal plant had stocks for 17 days.
PSEB sources confirmed to FE on Friday that the coal stock position at most thermal plants of northern region was bad as coal stocks have entered into the critical zone. On its part PSEB chairman YS Ratra has taken up the issue with concerned quarters of ministries of coal and power and various subsidiaries of Coal India Ltd for supplying coal as per the allotted linkages for improving coal stocks at its thermal plants. Inquires reveal that as on June 9 and June 10, only three rakes were dispatched from CCL to PSEB thermal plants. CCL is required to supply 370 thousand tonne to PSEB out of a total monthly supply of 1,160 thousand tonne of coal. Sources said that strike had resulted in reduced coal supplies by 32% to Punjab.
Even the Central Electricity Authority has expressed its concern about the low coal stock at most of the thermal power stations in the northern region. Total all India Coal Stock at the power stations has gone down from 14.2 mt in the beginning of the year to less than 9 mt in the first week of June.