Many states are experiencing power outages due to a fuel supply crisis at gencos
Combined with an industrial revival, summer’s peak has resulted in a massive power shortage. Despite the government’s claims that it is doing everything possible to avoid a national power crisis. Worsening fuel stocks at thermal power plants are likely to cripple electricity supplies in the coming weeks, slowing economic activity.
On April 7, the electricity shortage reached 80 million units (MUs). Close to the all-time high of 82 MU seen on October 12, 2021, also up from a daily average of 19.7 MU in March. On April 7, the supply shortage during peak hours was 6,124 megawatts (MW), higher than the previous high of 5,591 MW (October).
Kumar noted that Adani and Tata Power’s imported coal-fired power plant in Gujarat started generating electricity in March.
“We are working with them (units that rely on imported coal), and the ministry will have another meeting with them next week to resolve some pending issues. The official added that all the ministries concerned – coal, rail, also energy – were working together to ensure no power outages. “This is our highest collective priority. “We are trying to crack this problem as best we can,” he said.
The secretary said the railroads have committed to introducing an additional 0.1 million carriages over the next 2-3 years and have identified several locations in their rail network to increase loading and hauling capacity.
To address the electricity shortage, on April 9, Maharashtra Cabinet approved the purchase of 760MW of electricity from Coastal Gujarat Power, a subsidiary of Tata Power. Under the agreement, which runs until mid-June. State-owned utility MahaVitaran will buy electricity at 5.5-5.7 rupees per unit at a spot price of ’12 per unit. The deal will help Tata Power’s missing 4,000 MW ultra-mega power plant project in Mundra to recoup some unrecovered amount. The company currently operates three of its six units to provide additional power to nightclubs in Gujarat.
Although high coal prices have hampered plant operations using imported fuel. JSW Energy and JSPL have been supplying expensive energy to find buyers on the electricity market in recent weeks. GVK Power, which provides Punjab with energy from the Goindwal Sahib thermal project. Operates at 10% PLF as the US government halts purchases due to higher tariffs of 5-6 rupees per unit.
