Thermal Power Plants Witness 33% Increase In Coal Stocks, Says Coal Ministry
Coal production in the first quarter of this year has risen 10.58% year-on-year, while supply of the fuel has grown by 8.50%.
The Union Ministry of Coal on Monday said that the stock at domestic thermal power plants as on June 29 was 44.46 metric tonne, a 33% rise over a year ago that's sufficient for 18.5 days, as per present consumption levels.
Additionally, coal production in the first quarter of this year has risen 10.58% year-on-year, while supply of the fuel has grown by 8.50%.
In anticipation of the monsoon's impact on coal production, the ministry has ensured availability of 98.67 MT at the pit-heads of mines, including coal in transit, as of June 30, 2024, which is 33.5% higher than last year's figures, according to an official statement.
Currently, stock availability at thermal power plants is 68% of the normative requirement, up from about 50% during the same period last year. During the year-ended March 2024, there was no coal scarcity at domestic coal-based power plants, with stocks exceeding 47 MT as of March 31. This fiscal, the ministry plans to maintain similar high stocks at plants and pit-heads.
As of June 29, there has been a 10.54% year-on-year rise in the number of rakes per day supplying the solid fuel, indicating adequate stocks to meet the monsoon requirements of all domestic thermal plants.
The coal, railways, and power ministries, the statement said, are coordinating to ensure sufficient coal at all thermal plants across the country.
