Andhra Pradesh is importing 31 lakh tones of coal for power plants

By Our Special Correspondent

Andhra Pradesh Energy Minister Peddireddy Ramachandra Reddy said that all steps have been taken to import coal from abroad as per the Centre's directives to overcome the shortage of power generation.

He held a review meeting with energy department officials at the secretariat on Thursday. Measures have been taken to import a total of 31 lakh metric tonnes of coal from other countries.

The coal crisis in the state, as far as the country is concerned, started in October 2021. To overcome the coal shortage and control its availability, the Center has set up a committee with the Ministers of Coal, Railways and Energy.

The committee meets every week to take stock of the situation and recommend certain measures to augment coal supplies.

The committee directed that all the states should import 10 per cent of their coal requirements as it is very important for thermal power generation to stabilize the coal situation in the state. Accordingly, the state government is importing coal, he said.

At present the thermal power plants in the country have coal reserves for 2-3 days. Generally the coal supplied by the Center to the State is stored and consumed as per the requirement. It takes 21 days. "

The Department of Energy estimates that power can be supplied on demand from June to September. Electricity demand increases during September and October due to the new farming season. Authorities have been directed to ground the third unit of the Krishnapatnam Thermal Power Plant and make the necessary power allocations.