Power crisis looming due to coal supply being affected

With the supply of imported coal as well as domestically affected, there is a danger of power crisis. Power cuts have started in many states, due to which industrial production is also being affected. Maharashtra is reporting shortage of coal for its power plants. Gujarat is also facing power crisis. In many states of North India, including Uttar Pradesh, there are hours of power cuts.

In view of the increase in demand for electricity, the price of electricity reached the level of Rs 20 per unit on April 1 in the power exchange IEX. Experts say that this year due to excessive heat in North India, the demand for electricity has increased. Electricity consumption in March this year was 4.6 percent more than in March last year.

According to the report of the Central Electricity Authority (CEA), the total electricity generation capacity in India is 3.95 lakh MW and of this 2.35 lakh MW is thermal power. 2.10 lakh MW of electricity is produced from coal, while the capacity of about 25,000 MW is gas based. India still mainly depends on coal based power plants for electricity. At present, the PLF (Plant Load Factor) of the power plant is less than 60 per cent despite the increase in demand.