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Twenty eight power plants face critical coal stock

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BS Reporter Kolkata/ Bhubaneswar
Last Updated : Jan 20 2013 | 9:33 PM IST

List includes NTPC-Kaniha and Sterlite IPP in Orissa.

As many as 28 coal-fired power plants across the country are in a critical state with coal stock of less than seven days. Of the 28 power stations, 14 are in a super critical state with coal stock of less than four days, according to the latest report compiled by the Central Electricity Authority (CEA).

The situation is possibly the worse in Gujarat where four out of five thermal power stations are reeling under critical coal stock. The four thermal power stations (TPS) grappling with critical coal stock are Gandhi Nagar TPS (870 MW), Ukai TPS (850 MW), Sikka TPS (240 MW) and Wanakbori TPS (1470 MW). While the Gandhi Nagar, Sikka and Wanakbori TPS are bogged down by less receipt of coal, the dip in coal stock in case of Ukai TPS has been due to higher generation of power.

In the eastern region, eight out of 24 power stations are reeling under critical coal stock, six of them being in the super critical state.

In Orissa, two coal-based power plants-the 3000 MW NTPC Kaniha and the recently commissioned 600 MW unit of Sterlite Energy's 2400 MW independent power plant (IPP) at Jharsuguda are in a critical state.

While the NTPC Kaniha plant, a pithead power plant, has a coal stock of 281,000 tonnes which would barely last for six days, the condition of Sterlite IPP is even worse.

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The IPP is grappling with super critical coal stock and has a stock of 38000 tonnes which would last for only two days.

Both NTPC Kaniha and Sterlite IPP have been let down by less receipt of coal.

In West Bengal, three power stations- Mejia TPS, Bandel TPS and Kolaghat TPS are facing critical coal stock. The Bandel and Kolaghat TPS are getting less coal whereas in case of Mejia TPS, the coal stock has dwindled because of higher turnaround time of coal transport.

In Bihar, the Muzaffarpur TPS (220 MW) and Kahalgaon TPS (2340 MW) of NTPC are in a super critical state due to less receipt of coal.

Similarly, in Jharkhand, the 890 MW Chandrapura TPS of Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) has a coal stock of only 9000 tonnes.

Punjab and Haryana are the only two states where the coal-based power plants are not facing the problem of critical coal stock.

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First Published: May 16 2011 | 12:07 AM IST

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