Power Engineers raise many questions on the Central Govt's letter to power generating houses to import coal

All India Power Engineers Federation has raised serious questions after the Union Power Ministry once again issued instructions to the state government power generating houses and private sector power houses to import coal to increase the supply of coal in times of coal crisis. The federation questioned that if importing coal is the solution to the problem, then why are the big power plants of private houses running on imported coal closed in today's power crisis? In a statement issued today, the Federation said that till adequate arrangements are made to transport domestic coal to the power stations, it should be clarified by the Ministry of Power how imported coal will reach the thermal power stations from the ports.

Shailendra Dubey, Chairman, All India Power Engineers Federation said that in a letter issued by the Union Power Ministry on April 28, it has been asked to import 22.049 million tonnes of coal from thermal power stations in the state and 15.936 million tonnes from private sector power stations.

He said that while on one hand the Union Power Ministry is pressurizing the state government thermal power plants to import coal, on the other hand no instructions have been given in the letter to Adani's 4600 MW thermal power plant at Mundra, Tata's 4000 MW Thermal Power Station at Mundra in Gujarat and Adani's Udipi in Karnataka 1200 MW thermal power plant which run on imported coal. The names of these power stations are also not mentioned in the letter of the Ministry of Power, whereas these power stations are on the sea coast and it is easiest for them to get imported coal. These power stations are closed after the price of imported coal has increased in the international market.

He said that Adani has an agreement with Haryana to provide 1424 MW of electricity for 25 years, but Adani has stopped giving electricity to Haryana from August last year.

He raised the question that on one hand Coal India is saying that it has produced 15.6% more than last year and this produced coal is not reaching thermal power stations due to lack of railway rakes. Passenger trains are being canceled across the country, yet coal is not reaching . In such a situation, even if coal is imported, then the imported coal will come to the ports and in the absence of railway rakes from the ports, how will this coal reach the thermal power stations is a big question.

According to the order issued by the Union Ministry of Power, all thermal power stations have to issue purchase orders for imported coal by 31 May 2022 and 50% delivery by 30 June 2022, 40% by 31 August 2022 and the remaining 10%. Delivery is to be ensured by 31 October 2022. From this it appears that the coal crisis is very serious and it is yet to go on for several months.

Anpara Thermal Power Station of Uttar Pradesh State Power Generation has been given a target of importing 853000 tonnes and Obra, Harduaganj and Parichha Thermal Power Stations to import 1286000 tonnes of coal.