KADAPA: Coal shortage continues to haunt the Rayalaseema Thermal Power Plant (RTPP) at Kalamala in the district.
Three units of the plant have been temporarily shut down due to lack of coal supply and any further delay in coal supply may lead to the shut down of the remaining two units also, officials said. Coal shortage in the RTPP had become a common phenomenon in the recent past and some units have had to be shut down frequently due to the problem. The plant generates 1,050 mega watt of power through its five generation units. Currently, plagued by the shut down, the plant is generating only 350 mw of power.
With supplies of domestic and foreign coal falling, RTPP authorities have had to stop production of 1,2 and 3 units on Sunday leaving only two units functional.
“We are expecting the coal rakes from Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) to arrive here tonight. If the coal does not arrive on time, the remaining units will also have to be closed,” an official said.
RTPP incharge CE Devendra Naik, however, exuded confidence that the rakes will arrive on time and as soon as the supply is restored, power generation in the three units will resume. Union leaders in the plant however are of the opinion that the very existence of the plant could be in question if the situation continues and attribute the crisis to bifurcation.
“The situation has turned worse ever since bifurcation. Though stocks of foreign coal reserves are satisfactory, local coal is not being supplied properly,” they alleged. The leaders wanted the Centre to intervene and ensure proper supply of coal or bear the resultant power crisis.