NEW DELHI: For the first time in recent history no coal-fired power stations in the country is starving for fuel, a far cry from 2014 when 66% of the units monitored by the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) were doddering due to critical coal inventory.
Government officials said the total inventory at power stations reached 29 million tonne, good for keeping plants running for 17 days, on Sunday as a result of a coordinated and sustained push by the coal and railway ministries under Piyush Goyal’s watch.
Comfortable fuel stock at power plants ahead of summer leaves will strengthen the case to hold states accountable for ensuring 24X7 supplies from April 1 deadline under the ‘Power for All’ agreement. Adequate fuel stock arms power plants to meet higher summer demand and leaves no excuse for utilities to avoid buying power by resorting to load-shedding.
