The existing power crisis has struck the world after the covid-19 pandemic which wrecked the country’s economy without any exception. Lebanon is struggling with a total blackout since the 9th of October due to fuel scarcity.
With China’s ongoing power outages due to high consumer demands and the coal crisis, India has similarly been on the same track as India is the 2 largest importer of coal after China.
Several states of India have already started facing overwhelming power cuts of 4-6 hours to restore coal for further usages with no possibility of issues being resolved anytime soon. However, Coal India Limited (CIL) which accounts for 80% of domestic coal production, has assured the public to increase the coal production to avoid the blackout across the nation.
According to the data issued by the Central Electricity Authority (CEA), out of 135 coal-fired power plants, 16 power plants have no stocks left of coal and 80 per cent of the plants have only 4 to 5 days of coal reserved.
As per the reports published by Crisil, “the supply crunch is predicted to persist, with the non-power sector feeling the heat as import remains the only alternative to meet the rising demands. Coal inventory at Indian thermal plants will improve gradually by next March.”
The whole nation is on the verge of blackout as the stock remains of coal are insufficient in most of the power plants but here’s a list of the states that are more likely to suffer blackouts.
Jharkhand, Bihar, and Rajasthan
Jharkhand, Bihar, and Rajasthan are worst affected by the coal crisis.
The POSOCO data revealed Jharkhand recorded a power deficit of 18%-24%, while power supply to Bihar and Rajasthan was between 6% and 17% below requirements.
This has resulted in frequent power cuts of 6-7 hours in Bihar, 11-12 hours of unscheduled blackout in Rajasthan as alleged by the residents.
Andhra Pradesh
The Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy in his letter to the Prime Minister stated the condition of the state and demanded urgent coal supplies for energy production. Power outages can cause huge losses to the farmers as the irrigation processes require a continuous power supply to water the crops. “More water is employed in the last phase of harvesting and if it is denied, fields would dry up” he added. The coal-based power plants are operating at less than 50% of their capacities because of the nationwide coal crisis. The government is planning for the load shedding if the situation persists.
Kerala
Kerala is known for the moderate production of electricity through hydroelectric projects. This may become the reason for the low supply of coal from the central pool. Moreover, the State has been experiencing a shortage of 15 per cent of power from the Central due to the closure of four thermal stations which are used to supply electricity to Kerala due to coal shortage. The Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) has appealed to the netizens to save electricity by switching off air conditioners, fans, lights, and heavy electric appliances mainly during peak hours of consumption to lower the domestic demands.
Delhi
The situation of the capital Delhi is not any better. The Power Minister of Delhi, Satyendar Jain considers the condition as “critical” as the capital is likewise encountering the threat of blackout similar to the other states. 1 out of 5 coal-fired power plants have drained out of coal which provides 100 megawatts of electricity to Delhi.
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