Coal Ministry To Ensure Adequate Dry Fuel At Thermal Power Plants
The Ministry of Coal, on Monday, declared its plans to increase the output of coal and guarantee a sufficient supply for thermal power plants. The all-inclusive plan includes developing new coal blocks, increasing mining capacity, and obtaining coal from privately owned mines.
"All these three operational components are contributing and have clear plans for further enhancement. The production plans for years 2027 and 2030 will far exceed the likely domestic requirement of thermal power plants in the country, including that for likely additional capacity," the coal ministry said in a statement.
The ministry wants to meet the growing demand for coal by generating 1,404 million tonnes (MT) by 2027 and 1,577 MT by 2030. This is a significant increase from the current yearly production of about one billion MT. As of right now, 821 MT of coal are supplied to domestic coal-based power plants per year.
Thermal power stations and other mines report a total stock of 20 MT and 41.59 MT, indicating a favourable trend in coal stockpiling." The coal requirement for additional thermal capacity would be around 400 MT at 85 per cent PLF (plant load factor), and the actual requirement may be lower depending on the generation requirements in the coming years due to contributions from renewable sources," it said.
There is a positive trend in coal stockpiling, with thermal power plants and various mines reporting a cumulative stock of 20 MT and 41.59 MT, respectively. The overall stock, inclusive of in-transit quantities and those at captive mines, has reached 73.56 MT, reflecting a 12 percent year-on-year increase compared to the previous year's 65.56 MT.
Highlighting the industry's performance, the ministry noted an 8.99 percent growth in power generation for domestic coal-based plants, while coal production witnessed a robust 13.02 percent year-on-year increase. Over the last three months, demand for thermal power has surged by more than 20 percent compared to the previous year.
