State run power generation company Mahagenco may face huge coal shortage once the units being constructed at Paras, Koradi and Chandrapur power plants are commissioned. The total installed generation capacity of these units is over 3,200MW, which is around 20% of the current requirement during evenings.
For MSEDCL new coal fired units Machchhakatta and Mahanadi coal blocks were allotted for captive mining jointly to MSEDCL and Gujarat State Electricity Company Limited (GSECL) in February 2006. And the production was to start from April 2009 but due to the hurdles of local oppositions has led the mining project delayed.
However on same issue SP Rekhade, Mahagenco's chief general manager (coal), claimed that mining would start in another eight to ten months. “Around 70 to 80% land acquisition is over. All clearances from central government, except the environmental one, have been obtained. Work is underway on the mine's railway siding, and we are in the process of obtaining all clearances from the Odisha government,” he said.
However, he did not rule out the possibility of mining getting further delayed. “The units won't remain idle because of coal shortage. We have apprised the central government of this situation and are confident that alternate arrangements will be made if Machchhakatta mine does not become operational on time,” he said.
Whereas state government is claiming for new units coal will be arranged from other mines. “Which is next to impossible†said by Mahagenco sources. Also coal ministry has said they are not in position to supply coal to more power plants. So, how will you get coal to generate 3,000MW. Private power plants and other state governments too want extra coal,” an official pointed out on condition of anonymity.
This may led the companies to see other option of Imported coal for running their units.
Source: Times of India
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