Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan calls high-level meeting to decide on load shedding

In light of the ongoing power supply crisis in the state, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has called a high-level meeting today, October 11, to discuss whether load shedding will be imposed or not. 

Kerala Electricity Minister K Krishnankutty had said on Sunday that the state government may have to resort to load shedding in case shortage of power from the Central pool continues for a long time due to the non-availability of coal for the thermal power plants. Notably, after a meeting on Sunday, October 10, the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) decided to spend an extra Rs 2 crore on a daily basis to purchase electricity.

Union Power Minister dismisses claims of coal shortage

Earlier on October 5, responding to reports of the power crisis in India, Union Power Minister RK Singh had denied claims of a coal shortage and informed that there is no need to panic as there is enough coal reserve for power production in the country. He had said that there was no such crisis in India and that the country has a sufficient amount of coal just like China to fulfil the increasing demands.

RK Singh further informed there is a rise in consumption of electricity amid COVID-19 due to which there is an increased demand for coal. He had told ANI, "The demand for coal has increased and we are fulfilling this demand. We are in a position to meet the further rise in the demands."

In an official release, the Ministry of Coal stated, "The coal stock at power plant end is about 72 lakh tonnes, sufficient for 4 days requirement, and that the Coal India Limited (CIL) end is more than 400 lakh tonnes, which is being supplied to the power plants".

India coal crisis

As state governments of Delhi, Andhra Pradesh, and Punjab reported the issue of coal shortage in power plants, the Ministry of Power on October 9, detailed the reasons for the same. Since the revival of the economic state of the country, the demand for electricity has been pressurising the coal availability. 

The four reasons listed by the Power Ministry include:

1. Increased demand for electricity due to a revival of the economy after the second wave of COVID-19. 
2. Coal production and dispatch of coal from the mines were affected due to heavy rainfall in the coal mine areas during the month of September 2021
3. Prices of the imported coal increased to an unprecedented high mark resulting in a substantial reduction in power generation from imported coal-based power plants, therefore, leading to more dependence on domestic coal. 
4. Also, the non-building of adequate coal stocks before the onset of the monsoon has added to the coal crisis.

(With inputs from ANI, Image: PTI/Unsplash)