New Delhi, September 17 (Daily Kiran) : The Coal Ministry has advised Uttar Pradesh to prioritize the rapid development of its captive coal blocks. This recommendation aims to secure long-term fuel supplies for thermal power plants and reduce reliance on external coal sources.
In an official statement, the ministry highlighted recent media reports indicating that Uttar Pradesh is facing significant power shortages due to disruptions in coal supply. The ministry reiterated its advice for the state to expedite the development of its captive coal blocks while noting that Coal India Limited (CIL) is meeting the state’s coal requirements.
As of September 15, the Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (UPRVUNL) reported that none of its thermal power plants were classified under the ‘critical stock’ category, indicating no severe shortages in coal availability at the plant level.
The ministry pointed out that the Saharpur Jamarpani coal block, located in Jharkhand’s Dumka district and containing over 973 million tons of reserves, was allocated to UPRVUNL in 2015 under the Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Act. This allocation was specifically intended to meet the coal needs of UPRVUNL’s thermal power projects.
However, more than ten years have passed since the allocation, and UPRVUNL has made little progress in developing this block. Consequently, the state’s power plants continue to rely solely on CIL for their coal needs.
In contrast, 14 other coal blocks allocated for captive use in the electricity sector have already become operational since the allocation date of Saharpur Jamarpani, beginning coal production for their respective plants.
The stock situation at UPRVUNL’s thermal power plants has been improving steadily. On September 1, coal stock stood at 725,000 tons, rising to 841,000 tons by September 15. Over the past week, the average daily coal supply exceeded consumption, indicating a growing stockpile.
The ministry noted that logistical challenges, such as unloading difficulties at various plants, have occasionally hindered railways from dispatching coal rakes, impacting supply.
Despite having over 800,000 tons of coal stock, UPRVUNL’s thermal power plants have only achieved a plant load factor (PLF) of around 48% this month. Therefore, the reduced electricity generation cannot be attributed to a lack of coal. The state must address operational issues at its power production centers and ensure optimal use of available coal stock to increase output.
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