Heat wave, low coal stocks, delayed payments leading to power outages
India’s power sector woes are likely to get worse as record high power demands are putting pressure on thermal power plants struggling with low coal inventories.
Over the past week, the total electricity shortage in India hit 623 million units (MU), surpassing the total shortage all of March. Low coal stocks at thermal power plants have led to power cuts this month across states including Jharkhand, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh and the Union Territory of J&K.
The increasing demand due to economic recovery after the pandemic and lower power supply from imported coal-based power plants have led to increased pressure on thermal power plants using domestic coal.
