BENGALURU: Coal supply to the state-owned thermal plants is running dangerously low, with the state government scrambling to get coal stocks from various sources. If the situation doesn’t tide over, Karnataka is likely to look at a grim power situation just ahead of elections, which may not augur well for the ruling Congress government.
Of the three units of the Ballari Thermal Power Station, which has a total capacity of 1,700 MW of power, two have been shut down. The 1,720 MW Raichur Thermal Power Station and the 1,600 MW Yermarus Thermal Power are only partially functioning due to coal shortage.
Energy minister DK Shivakumar had indicated last week that due to good rain, state will be able to manage the load for November but would be tough from December. With onset of summer, there is extra reliance on thermal power and hydel power is used less as water is required for the summer months.
Karnataka Power Corporation Limited (KPCL) generates 220-240 million units of power a day from thermal, hydro-electric, solar and wind projects. Of this, about 30 per cent is generated from the thermal power stations. Senior officials say the state needs an average of 52,000 tonnes of coal a day, but is getting only about 20,000-25,000 tonnes, which is less than half of its requirement.
Since Karnataka does not have its captive coal mines, it is dependent on mines outside the state. Over the last 30 months, the government has already spent `1,500 crore on coal purchase and to meet the current requirement, it will have to fork out much more.
But senior KPCL officials were not forthcoming on the additional cost that will be incurred for coal purchase to tide over the present crisis.