Amaravati: The thermal power plants in the state of Andhra Pradesh have been affected by the short supply of coal that has caused hitches in power generation.

Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has requested Telangana CM K Chandrasekhar Rao to increase coal supply to the State from Singareni Collieries Company Ltd (SCCL) to help in overcoming the crisis. AP-Genco Managing Director B. Sreedhar met the SCCL CMD and asked for necessary steps, according to an official release.

Strike in Mahanadi coal mines

Sources in AP Genco said power generation in thermal plants was hit due to heavy rains and Andhra Pradesh Southern Power Distribution Company (APSPDCL), which supplies electricity to the eight southern districts of Andhra Pradesh, attributed the short supply of coal to duty boycott by staff in Mahanadi coal field as well as the heavy rains in Singareni and Thalcheru mines.

Andhra Pradesh State is having Thermal Power installed capacity of 5010MW for which the thermal stations are having Coal Fuel Supply agreement with MCL and SCCL. These thermal power supplies base load to the state of AP.The Annual coal linkages with M/s.MCL is 17.968 Million Metric Tonnes per Annum and with SCCL is 8.88 Million Metric tonnes per annum.

Accident in Bharathpur Mines

Another cause for the shortage was due to an accident which occurred in Bharathpur mines in MCL area last week of July-19 which caused closure of the mine and followed by 15 days strike which adversely affected the coal supplies to APGENCO state thermal stations, and again in third week of Sept 2019, there was a strike in MCL mines for 3 days and in SCCL for one day. The thermal stations were adversely affected and the base load of Thermal Power Generation in the state.

Heavy Rains

There has been heavy rainfall in the mines area during Sept, 2019. At present the heavy monsoon rains in MCL and SCCL area is affecting the coal loading and supplies to APGENCO thermal stations.To run at 85% PLF, around 70,000 MT of coal is required and at present on an average, 45000 MT of coal is being received from MCL and SCCL because of above explained conditions.

APGENCO officials are working in close coordination with officers of MCL, SCCL and railway authorities to improve the coal supplies.

AP state borrowed Round the Clock (RTC) power of 3800 MU power from Haryana, Punjab, Delhi and MP during the months of Nov 18, Dec 18, Jan 19, Feb 19, Mar 19, Apr 19 with the agreement that 1500 MW RTC of 3990 MU of power will be returned starting from 15th Jun 19 to 30th Sept 19. The return of 1500 MW RTC will end on 30th Sept.

As per an official release the Government and APGENCO are taking all possible action to improve power generation and supply to the State.

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