NEW DELHI: A 31% year-onyear increase in domestic coal production and 26% rise in loading of railway rakes in the April-May period have reversed the trend of woefully low fuel inventories at power plants. This has also prevented a prolonged power crisis.
Coal ministry data on Sunday showed fuel stocks at power plants rising from 21. 8 million tonnes (MT) as on June 1 to 22. 6MT as on June 16. This is sufficient for 10 days in spite of a record 3. 3-billion-units-perday power production during the period. Total coal production in the first two months of the current fiscal stood at 137. 8MT against over 104. 8MT in the previous corresponding period.
The pace of production continues in the first fortnight of June, the ministry said. Though small, the increase in fuel stocks at power plants indicates the beginning of inventory buildup as it comes amid an unprecedented spike in power demand and a 60% drop in generation by imported coal-fired units.
