The total number of thermal power plants with coal stocks of less than four days has fallen to 71 plants with a generation capacity of 90.9 GW (gigawatt), compared to 83 plants with a capacity of 100.4 GW on October 11, government data showed. In another sign of easing power supply situation, the total shortage of power supply nationwide fell to 14.5 million units on October 18 from 86.9 million units on October 11.
Many states such as Rajasthan, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh saw load shedding due to low coal stocks at coal-fired thermal power plants. A sharp rise in power demand heavy rains in September have stretched coal supplies at thermal power plants, which account for 54 per cent of India’s power generation capacity and about 67 per cent of the supply of power.
