Lok Sabha Question No. 55 (STARRED), answered on 2021-12-01
Subject: Coal Shortage
Ministry: COAL
Asked by: Y. S. Avinash Reddy

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COAL LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.*55 TO BE ANSWERED ON 01.12.2021

## Coal Shortage

## *55. SHRI Y.S. AVINASH REDDY:

Will the Minister of COAL be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the attention of the Government has been drawn to the coal shortage being experienced by the thermal power plants in the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons for the shortage;
- (c) whether the Government of Andhra Pradesh has requested for making available sufficient coal to run the power plants in the State;
- (d) if so, the response of the Union Government in this regard; and
- (e)  the  remedial  measures  being  taken  by  the  Government  to  alleviate  the  coal shortage and to meet the demand in the country?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS, COAL AND MINES (SHRI PRALHAD JOSHI)

(a) to (e): A statement is laid on the table of the House.

## Statement referred to in reply to parts (a) to (e) of Lok Sabha Starred Question No.55 for answer on 01.12.2021 asked by SHRI Y.S. AVINASH REDDY

(a)  &  (b): Due to increased demand of power, less power generation by imported coal  based  power  plants  and  some  interruption  in  supply  of  coal  due  to  heavy rains,  the  coal  stock  at  the  power  plants  depleted  to  7.2  Million  Tonnes  (MT) (sufficient for 4 days) as on 8 th  October, 2021.  Subsequently with increased coal supplies,   the  coal  stock  has  started  increasing  and  has  now  reached  16.74  MT (sufficient for 9 days) as on 25.11.2021.  Coal India Limited (CIL) has dispatched around  54  MT more  coal  during  April  -  October'21  in  comparison  to  the  same period of last year. It has dispatched 291.72 MT coal during this period, against 237.75 MT during the same period of last fiscal. The coal stock at CIL pithead end was 40.23 MT as on 08.10.2021 and 32.30 MT as on 24.11.2021.

(c) & (d): Yes Sir. Government of Andhra Pradesh had requested for  coal  to meet the  power  demand  of  the  State.  In  the  current  fiscal  upto  October'21,  CIL  has supplied  13.24  MT  of  coal  to  the  Andhra  Pradesh  based  Power  Plants  in comparison to the supply of 7.18 MT in the same period of last year. In addition to the above, CIL has offered additional quantity of 4.97 Lakh Tonnes through Railcum-Road mode from its mines to the state Genco to build up adequate stock at Power Plants end.

(e): Steps  taken  to  improve  coal  supplies  for  meeting  increased  demand  in  the country are as follows:

- i.  In  order  to  address  the  issues  of  coal  supplies  to  power  sector,  an  InterMinisterial  Sub-Group  comprising  of  representatives  from  Ministry  of  Power, Ministry of Coal, Ministry of Railways, Central Electricity Authority (CEA), CIL and SCCL meet  regularly  to  take  various  operational  decisions  to  enhance  supply  of coal  to  thermal  power  plants  as  well  as  for  meeting  any  contingent  situations relating to power sector including critical coal stock position in power plants.
- ii. CIL had offered about 5.2 MT of additional coal from its various subsidiaries to States, Central Gencos for lifting through RCR/ Road Mode.

iii.  In addition to Annual Contracted Quantity (ACQ), coal has been offered under RCR mode on 'as is where is basis' to build up stock at Power house end.

iv. The Ministry of Coal has amended Mineral Concession Rules, 1960 with a view to  encourage  domestic  coal  production  enhancement  from  captive  mines  by allowing sale of coal or lignite, on payment of additional amount, by the lessee of a captive mine up to 50 percent of the total coal or lignite produced in a financial year,  after  meeting  the  requirement  of  the  end  use  plant  linked  with  the  mine. Earlier this year, the Mines and Minerals (Development & Regulation) Amendment Act  had  been  amended  to  this  effect.  This  is  applicable  for  both  the  private  and public sector captive mines. With this amendment, the Government has paved the way for releasing of additional coal in the market by greater utilization of mining capacities of captive coal and lignite blocks, which were being only partly utilized owing to limited production of coal for meeting their captive needs.

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