The Hindu Business Line : Raichur thermal station facing coal stock depletion

COAL stock levels at the Raichur thermal station of Karnataka Power Corporation Ltd have already reached critical levels. Coal stocks, as of December 29, would last only for 7 days at current generation levels, according to data available from the Central Electricity Authority. Coal requirement for the 1470-MW plant is about 26,200 tonnes per day.

This situation has prompted the state-owned transmission company activate some of the liquid fuel stations to begin operations to meet the demand of close to 99 million units per day. Liquid fuelled stations till recently had been asked to backed down to accommodate some of the low tariff stations, including hydroelectric stations.

Backing down would still mean that the bulk power buyer would have to pay deemed generation charges. With the liquid fuelled generators now on the grid, the sources indicated, the effective tariffs for the power had also increased. This is partly on account of the high fuel costs, which are priced on an import parity basis.

Sources said that the possibility of the shortage loomed in view of disruption in coal transportation network. Most of the southern region plants ship by multimodal means, rail- ship - rail. But with damage of the handling facilities the coal availability for some of the power stations has reached critical levels. Most of these stations have coal linkages to Singareni or Eastern I Hydel stations in Karnataka are currently contributing close to about 29 million units per day and thermal stations another 23 mu. Only six units of the Raichur Thermal were working to conserve coal. Another 47 mu is being sourced from the Central generating stations for meeting the daily requirement

In Tamil Nadu, the situation, appeared to be slightly better. The coal stock year positions at the 1050 Tuticorin power station was for 14 days, at the 450-MW Ennore Power station for 11 day and at the 840-MW Mettur thermal station it was 13 day. But some of these plants have reduced generation or gone off the grid. Unit 2 of the Ennore was of the grid on December 26, Tuticorin on December 27.

With power shortages looming as a result of this extraordinary situation, southern regions have sought release of additional power from the central generating stations out of the discretionary allocations. The sources said that such allocations would be required till such time, some technical and logistical issues were resolved.

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