State power generation utilities must continue to blend 10% imported coal, the Union power ministry has reiterated, despite objections by several states because the imported mineral is eight times more expensive.
The country’s thermal power plants will be able to maintain coal inventory of only between 22-25 million tonnes at any given point during the ongoing monsoon season, a scenario that could turn precarious if electricity demand spikes, ministry officials said on Saturday.
Coal-fired power plants had a combined stock of 23 million tonnes as on July 14, which is enough to run the utilities for two weeks if the weather remains favourable, according to official data seen by HT.
