About 60% thermal plants suffer acute coal shortage: CEA

Around 60% of the total 103 thermal power projects in the country are reeling under acute coal shortage with less than a week's stock at their disposal, according to official data.

Of the total 61 plants, with less than seven days of stockpiles, 34 power projects have less than four days of reserve, as per latest data (October 30) of the Central Electricity Authority.

The 34 projects with less than four days stock include seven power stations of state-run NTPC -- Badarpur (Delhi), Indira Gandhi power station (Haryana), Singrauli (Madhya Pradesh) Rihand, Tanda and Unchahar (Uttar Pradesh).

CEA has attributed the reason for shortfall in supply to Coal India and its subsidiaries.

As per the data, Coal India and its subsidiaries -- South Eastern Coalfields, Mahanadi Coalfields -- delivered lesser than annual contracted quantity of coal to these plants.

NTPC is also receiving and consuming coal on a daily basis at some of its stations, according to an official.

Earlier this month, the fuel stockpiles at the thermal power stations hit a new low in 25 years at 7.2 million tonnes, as Coal India and its subsidiaries failed to meet their production targets.

Total fuel stocks at 103 coal-based stations came down to 7.2 million tonnes earlier in October.

This 7.2 million tonnes comprise 6.58 million tonnes of indigenous coal and 0.70 lakh tonnes of imported fuel.

As per the official data, on September 29 as many as 56 thermal power stations had fuel stocks for less than seven days.