Coal crisis hits NTPC Plant

ANGUL: The 460-MW Talcher Thermal Power Station (TTPS), owned by National Thermal Power Corporation Limited, is facing acute coal shortage. It is left with a coal stock  for just three days. It requires a minimum of 8,000 tonne coal everyday to run the plant and build up the stock. The power plant is dedicated to Grid Corporation of Orissa (Gridco). As per the power purchase agreement with State Government all the power produced in the plant goes to the State. Due to low coal supply from Jagannath area of MCL since last month, the plant authorities had written to the State Government about the situation. The Government has reportedly asked MCL to ensure more coal to TTPS. “We have been receiving about 2,500 to 3,000 tonne of coal a day since last month whereas our requirement is more than 9,000 tonne. The available stock can just feed the plant for three to four days,” said an official of the plant. At present, five units are functional while unit no. 5 is under annual overhauling. “Unless the coal supply improves in the coming days, the plant may plunge into a crisis affecting power generation. The plant is now evacuating all the power generated to Gridco,” the official added.Refuting the charge of low coal supply, an official of MCL said more than the required  coal stock has been supplied to TTPS as per the Fuel Supply Agreement for the current financial year.  He, however, admitted that the coal supply had come down for some time due to low production at mines as a result of rain and frequent strikes by workers.