Coal linkages being arranged for Yadadri power plant, says Kishan Reddy

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Union Minister for Coal and Mines G Kishan Reddy. File | Photo Credit: PTI

Union Minister for Coal and Mines G. Kishan Reddy on Friday said directions had been issued to the authorities concerned to arrange coal linkages, possibly from Mahanadi Coalfields or Western Coalfields, to ensure uninterrupted fuel supply to the Yadadri Thermal Power Plant.

The decision was taken after Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy spoke to him over the phone on Thursday, highlighting disruptions in coal supplies to the plant due to reduced production at Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL). The Chief Minister had sought allocation of coal from Coal India to avert a possible power shortage in Telangana.

Addressing a press conference at the BJP state office, Mr. Kishan Reddy said the country was facing heightened pressure on thermal power generation due to a sharp rise in electricity demand and reduced hydroelectric output due to El Niño conditions. The power demand had increased by 16-18% across the country and the share of thermal power in the national energy mix has risen from 74% to 83%, placing significant pressure on the coal sector, he said.

The Union Minister noted that Coal India was making extraordinary efforts to meet demand. Against the normal loading of about 350 railway rakes of coal a day, a record 496 rakes were currently being dispatched to power plants across the country. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was personally reviewing coal production, transportation and stock levels on a daily basis.

Mr. Kishan Reddy said incentives were being provided to Coal India’s workforce to sustain production even during holidays and ensure adequate supplies to power utilities. He clarified that no theft had taken place at SCCL, instead, there had been lapses in record-keeping by officials, following which notices had been issued.

The Union Minister further said that three new coal blocks had been allocated to SCCL after a gap of 15 years and that efforts were underway to secure allocation of another block to strengthen the company’s long-term coal production capacity.

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