Covid-19 lockdown to further paralyse cash flow, coal supply of power units

Thermal power units in the country would be cash strapped as power demand continues to fall while surplus coal lies unused at their sites.

Sector experts believe the double trouble is likely to stay for the next three quarters and could hurt the supply chain from coal to power despatch.

Non-pithead (away from coal mines) power generation units have 34 days of coal stock left but most of them are under reserved shutdown. The average plant load factor (PLF) or operating ratio of thermal units had fallen to a decade low of 58 per cent last fiscal year, indicating a