Coal stock buffer sufficient to meet peak demand of power plants: CIL
New Delhi, May 26
Government-owned mining giant Coal India Limited assured on Tuesday that it had adequate coal stocks to meet the peak summer demand from the country's thermal power plants.
The company said that the coal stock buffer currently available for use is around 168 million tonnes (MT), which includes inventories at power plants, CIL mine heads, transit points, and coal in transit through the railway networks.
Stocks of the fuel at thermal plants running on domestic coal stood at 47.6 MT as of May 23, while inventory at CIL's mine heads was 113.5 MT as of May 24, which is 10 per cent higher than at this time last year. The current stock level is sufficient to meet around 19 days of the fuel requirement of power plants, the company highlighted.
In addition, around 3 MT of coal is lying at transit points such as goods sheds, ports, and private washeries, while nearly 4 MT is currently in transit through railway rakes.
The public sector company said the decline in coal stocks at power plants during peak summer months is a natural occurrence every year and should not be interpreted as a supply-side crisis.
The mining giant, which meets over 80 per cent of India's coal demand, also said around 50 MT of in-situ mine coal is readily available for quick extraction and dispatch in case there is a further increase in demand.
As of May 20, 21 thermal power plants were categorised under criticality, of which 11 were domestic coal-based units. Seven of these plants source coal from CIL.
CIL said it has been regularly communicating with power producers to build up inventories in advance, particularly for plants located in logistically challenging areas.
A senior official said coal stocks were also being built up at the pitheads of coal mining companies as a proactive measure to meet any exigency amid the disruption in oil and gas supplies due to the Iran war.
The Ministry of Coal is ensuring a performance-driven ecosystem through sustained policy facilitation, robust monitoring mechanisms, and proactive stakeholder engagement. These concerted efforts are aimed at providing reliable coal availability, enabling uninterrupted operations across critical sectors, and effectively meeting the nation's growing energy demands, the official added.
— IANS
Reader Comments
I'm glad they're thinking ahead, especially with the Iran war concerns. But I wish India would accelerate its renewable energy transition instead of relying so heavily on coal. The air quality in Delhi is already terrible.
168 MT buffer sounds massive. But why are 21 plants still under criticality? 🤔 The logistics angle is key - we need to fix those bottlenecks. Been saying this for years - invest in conveyor belts and better rail connectivity near mines. Let's not repeat the 2022 fiasco.
As someone who works in the energy sector, I appreciate the transparency. The 50 MT of in-situ coal ready for quick extraction is a smart move. However, I'm concerned about the environmental impact - we need to balance energy security with sustainability.
Accha hai ki CIL is making arrangements but will this actually reach the remote plants in Jharkhand or Odisha on time? My uncle works at a power plant in a logistically challenging area and they've had issues even with adequate buffer. Hope the monitoring is real and not just paperwork. 💪
It's reassuring to see proactive planning. The 10% higher stockpile year-on-year is a positive indicator. But let's not forget the long-term goal - we need to diversify our energy mix. Coal shouldn't be the only answer.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.