Punjab Newsline
Coal stock shrinks at Ropar and Lehra Mohabatt thermal plants
VINOD KUMAR GUPTA
Thursday, 18 June 2009
CHANDIGARH: The dwindling coal stock at Ropar thermal plant and Lehra Mohabatt thermal plant is a cause of worry to PSEB in this paddy season. There is already a power shortage of 282 lakh units in Punjab as the demand has increased to 1660 lakh units against supply of 1378 lakh units.

According to sources the coal stock at Ropar thermal plant is 121000 MT while it is 83000 MT at Lehra Mohabatt thermal plant. The coal at both plants is just sufficient for six days which comes under critical category. Moreover with the onset of Monsoon in last week of June in Jharkhand the coal supply will get reduced further causing a possible loss of generation.

The plant has received 88 rakes in the month of June against requirements of 102 rakes.The daily requirement of coal at Ropar is 6 rakes as all the six 210 MW units are running. The main reason for this is less receipt of coal as per CEA website.

The coal consumption for 920 MW Lehra Mohabatt plant is approximately 4 rakes per day. The position at Bhatinda Thermal Plant is slightly better as it has 93000 MT of coal sufficient for 13 days.

The sources in Power sector said that in the neighboring Haryana coal stock at Panipat is also in critical category. It has 124000 MT of coal just sufficient for five days due to inadequate linkage. The power demand in state too has gone up to 1069 lakh units against supply of 874 lakh units.The power shortage is around 194 lakh units
In Rajasthan the position ios still more worse. The thermal plants at Kota and Suratgarh are having nil coal stock and are living from hand to mouth.

As per Central Electricity Authority parameters if coal stock is less than 7 days it comes under critical poison and if coal stock is less than 4 days it becomes super critical. The thermal plants are expected to keep a coal stock of 25 days for smooth running of units