With coal stock running out, Delhi may be staring at a power crisis

No coal for plants, no e-vehicle subsidy for Delhi: Satyendra Jain

The national capital might be staring at an imminent blackout if the coal supply situation doesn’t improve, Satyendra Jain, cabinet minister in Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led Delhi government, has said.

Jain said the plant that supplies 1,800 MW to Delhi has only one day coal stock left. Jain holds charge for power, health, urban transport, public works department, home and industries.

“Against the normative level of 15 days of coal, Dadri power plant has one day coal stock. That plant can dramatically shut down any day. I met the Union Power Minister R K Singh in Shimla during power ministers’ conference and he assured relief. Coal supply was increased for a few days and now it’s down again. Because the problem lies in the department of coal & railways,” Jain told Business Standard in an interview.  

Varsha Joshi, secretary, power & transport, government of NCT of Delhi, said they can’t make an alternate arrangement against 1,800 MW through any source or spot power market. “We are already running Bawana Gas power plant at its maximum capacity. We have power purchase agreement (PPAs) with NTPC plants and they are supposed to be honoured,” said Joshi.

Delhi touched a record power demand of 7,000 MW on July 10 when temperature soared above 42 degree Celsius. Jain further said that the Centre should allow them to cancel all long term PPAs. “Then I will buy power from wherever I want to. From coal supplier to power producer and railways, all are central companies, Delhi has to stake in any of them, still there are so many issues,” he said.

Jain said that Piyush Goyal, Union minister for coal and railways, told him few days ago that enough coal is being transported. “I don’t know where that coal is. It clearly isn’t at Dadri station,” Jain said.

The minister said that the capital is committed towards clean energy sources and will aim to have 100 per cent renewable-based power in three years to run at least during the day.

“We are trying that for 8-10 hours every day, it is only renewable that runs across the capital. We are strengthening programs for installing solar at residential societies, individual houses, commercial establishments and industrial clusters,” Jain told Business Standard.

He further said that the Government of NCT of Delhi’s is looking to generate 1,000 MW by 2020 and 2,000 MW by 2025 through rooftop solar installations across Delhi.

Jain announced the target at a workshop organised for rooftop solar by ‘Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Management Centre’ (EE&REM), along with department of power, GNCTD.

On the sidelines, Jain said that the Delhi government would give Rs 2 per unit subsidy to the residential areas adopting solar. The Delhi government would hold a tender for solar system installers and financiers to prepare a credible list for the residents.

Regarding plans of electric mobility, secretary Joshi said the Delhi government is aiming at 10,000 electric buses in five years will be electric. “All kind of last-mile transport would also electric,” she said.

Jain, however, said that Delhi is receiving no subsidy from the Centre under any scheme for the capital’s electric mobility plans. “Despite being the country’s capital, we are not getting the 60 per cent subsidy that the Centre is giving to other states,” Jain said.