Aman Sood
Tribune News Service
Patiala October 10
Punjab continues to face power shortage and cuts across various consumer categories due to coal paucity.
Despite paying crores of rupees to private thermals, Punjab continues to buy power at higher price to meet the demand, while Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) has decided to impose cuts for next few days. As on Sunday, the private coal-based plants in the state have 36-hour coal stock left, while the state-owned plants have about four days’ stock.
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Situation may ease off from Oct 15
With the fall in demand and arrival of sufficient quantum of coal for building up the stock, the situation may ease off from Oct 15
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Punjab’s seasonal power demand during the paddy season for two-three months is almost double the requirement during the remaining nine-10 months. “Principally, it is prudent to meet around a year’s demand with base load plants like thermal, nuclear and seasonal demand through banking, short-term power purchase, need-based purchase from power exchange and peak load plants (gas-based or hydel). However, failure on part of all thermal plants to maintain their minimum stock has led to power shortage. And with coal now arriving at irregular intervals, Punjab will have to brace for some restrictions in terms of power supply,” said a former chief engineer.
“Yesterday, 11 coal rakes were received against total requirement of 22. Due to depleted coal stock, these plants are operating at less than 50% of their generation capacity. The demand of agriculture sector still persists due to delayed transplantation of paddy and for the varieties of paddy needing supply,” said PSPCL CMD A Venu Prasad.
“With the fall in demand and arrival of sufficient quantum of coal for building up the coal stock, the situation shall ease off further from October 15,” Prasad said.
At present, PSPCL is procuring power from the market to cater to the demand of consumers, including the agriculture sector, even at exorbitant rates. “PSPCL has met maximum demand of 8,788 MW on October 9, while it procured around 1,800 MW on Sunday at Rs 11.60 per unit from the exchange,” he said.
Private thermals units in Punjab left with just 36-hour stock
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