The Coal Crisis Has Created A Lot Of Ruckus In India For Energy, India is said to have frequent power cuts and long hours of darkness
Many regions in India have issued advisories regarding the possibility of blackouts as a result of the country’s persistent coal scarcity. In reaction to this information, the government has reassured everyone and labelled reports of coal stockpiles reaching unprecedented lows as “confusing.” But how did India get to this position, when a potential power catastrophe looms huge in the horizon? Let’s take a closer look to see what’s going on.
India does have the world’s fourth-largest coal deposits and relies largely on thermal power stations to satisfy its energy needs. Furthermore, the nation is the ‘s largest coal importer and imports fuel from a variety of countries.
Refer to detailed analysys to the problem, see the video below
Experts say that a sharp increase in electricity consumption from industrial production and other sectors, low supply from coal reserves due to heavy rains in Gujarat, Punjab, Rajasthan, Delhi, and Tamil Nadu, increased power demand due to a faster-than-expected economic growth, and a 40% reduction in coal imports are all contributing to India’s electricity and coal crisis. Furthermore, the increase in international coal costs from $60/tonne in March 2021 to $160/tonne in September and October 2021 is exacerbating the problem.
Coal is indeed the world’s greatest source of power. Coal-fired power stations provide 72% of India’s electricity. This, along with the expansion of coal-consuming industry sectors such as steel, explains why the solid fuel source will remain vital to India’s economy in the next decades. Notwithstanding the government has undertaken intentions to boost renewable energy output, this is the case.
Is there going to be a power outage due to lack of coal?
As India’s reliance on thermal coal-based power plants remains high, the ratings agency predicts a minor power supply deficit in the near term, owing to increased home demand over the forthcoming festive season. The coal inventory situation, according to the agency, is unlikely to improve in the next several days. Nonetheless, the agency expects the coal shortfall to have an impact outside of the electricity industry.
How different Indian regions are dealing with the electricity crisis:
Gujarat: Tata Group has halted output at its imported coal-based power station in Mundra, Gujarat, which must have inked contracts to deliver 1,850 MW of energy to Gujarat, 475 MW to Punjab, 380 MW to Rajasthan, 760 MW to Bombay, and 380 MW to Haryana.
Punjab: PSPCL, a government utility, has announced that up to 3 replicates power cuts would be in effect until October 13. The Punjab Electric Supply Corporation Limited (PSPCL) has been obliged to reduce power output and implement load shedding due to a severe coal shortage.
Rajasthan: In Rajasthan, power is turned off for one hour every day.
Tamil Nadu: The Tamil Nadu Production and Transmission Corporation (Tangedco) has announced that power would be turned off in areas of Chennai for maintenance work.
The coal scarcity is also wreaking havoc in Jharkhand and Bihar.
Andhra Pradesh: Acute supply shortages are forcing unexpected power outages in the state, with crops at risk of drying out if irrigation pump aren’t electrically powered.
Kerala Power Minister K Krishnankutty said on Sunday that if a power deficit from the Common pool persists for a long period of time due to a lack of coal for thermal power stations, the provincial government may have to turn to load-shedding.
Madhya Pradesh Minister Of energy Pradhuman Singh Tomar said on Sunday that the state was in a better position. The state government has also issued tenders for the acquisition of eight metric tons of carbon for its power plants, according to the minister.
In Bawana, on the borders of Delhi, there is a 1,300 megawatts (MW) fuel power station. “The three companies in Delhi are now all wholesalers, not generators of electricity. We rely just on flora at the centre. If the supplies does not arrive within couple of days, the whole city of Delhi would be without power “Mr. Jain explained.
According to a Reuters study of daily load dispatch data from India’s federal grid operator, the country’s power distribution shortfall in first 7 days of October accounted for 11.2% of the country’s overall deficits for the year.
Although the data is open to the public, the study gives the first clear indication of the scope of the problem. Global fuel supplies are being stretched as prices rise, while market supply chains are being strained by the return of actual consumption the pandemic’s shut downs.
Mr. Kejriwal tweeted today that he had wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, requesting his help in securing enough coal and gas supplies for the town’s power plants.
Despite its ongoing reliance on fossil fuels, India is anticipated to achieve its target under the Paris Agreement On climate change to reduce emissions as a percentage of GDP by a third by 2030 compared to 2005 levels. According the IEA, India is the third highest CO2 emitter amongst countries, yet its capita emissions are just 40% of the global average.
