*Thermal stations continue to battle coal shortages <http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2009/04/16/stories/2009041651511500.htm> *
** ** ** *Stock position in 13 large stations expected to last less than four days. * *Our Bureau * New Delhi, April 15 The coal shortage situation affecting major thermal power stations across the country shows no sign of abating. According to latest available estimates, 23 thermal stations were facing “critical” coal stocks, with fuel in these plants expected to last less than seven days. Of these, the coal stocks position in 13 large stations have been designated as “super-critical,” with stocks expected to last less than four days, latest data of coal stock position (till April 12) compiled by the Central Electricity Authority show. Even more worrying could be the fact that stations facing “super-critical” coal stock situation include a number of super-thermal stations, several of which form the backbone of the Central and Eastern Grids, including NTPC’s 1,840-MW Kahalgaon station in Bihar and the 1,000-MW Sipat station in Chhattsgarh. The stations facing “critical” coal stocks include NTPC’s 3,000 MW Talcher Super Thermal Power Station in Orissa, Gujarat’s 1,470 MW Wanakbori thermal station, Maharashtra’s 2,340 MW Chandrapur project and Uttar Pradesh’s 1,550 MW Obra station. Lower production According to Power Ministry officials, the shortages are on account of a lower coal production by Coal India Ltd. Higher than anticipated power generation at some stations and unloading constraints at others, combined with low levels of coal imports, have compounded the problem further, they said. The impact is most pronounced in the northern and western regions. The west has the maximum number of stations facing coal shortages, with 11 thermal stations facing critical stocks, of which five are super critical. In the northern region, eight of the 21 stations are critical, of which three face “super critical” stocks. Thermal stations are normally expected to hold coal stocks of between 15 and 30 days, depending on the location of the project. While pithead stations should hold stocks of 15 days or more, stations located away from the mine are expected to hold coal stocks for 21-30 days. More imports Faced with the shortages, NTPC plans to ramp up coal imports to 15 million tonnes (mt) by 2012. NTPC imported 5 mt last fiscal against a target of 8.2 mt. “We are currently managing fuel supplies on a day-to-day basis at some of our stations due to inadequate supplies. Our coal requirements are expected to rise to 225 mt by the year 2012. Shortfall in supplies from Coal India would be bridged through captive production and imports,” a company official said. NTPC plans to import 12.5 mt of coal in the current fiscal to meet its need of around 150 mt. --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups ""GLOBAL SPECULATORS"" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/globalspeculators?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
