Lok Sabha Question No. 2303 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-08-03
Subject: Depleting Coal Stock Reserves
Ministry: POWER
Asked by: Y. S. Avinash Reddy, Pocha Brahmananda Reddy

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF POWER LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2303

## ANSWERED ON 03.08.2023

## DEPLETING COAL STOCK RESERVES

2303. SHRI Y.S. AVINASH REDDY: SHRI POCHA BRAHMANANDA REDDY:

Will the Minister of POWER be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  taken  note  of  the  depleting  coal  stock reserves  in  the  Thermal  Power  Plants  (TPPs)  of  the  country  which  is  causing frequent break down in the nation-wide power supply;
- (b) if  so,  the  details  thereof,  State-wise  and  particularly  in  Andhra  Pradesh; and
- (c) the  policy  initiatives  being  taken  by  the  Government  to  overcome  the problem and increase the coal stock reserves in the TPPs of the country, Statewise including Andhra Pradesh?

## A N S W E R

THE MINISTER OF POWER AND NEW & RENEWABLE ENERGY

(SHRI R.K. SINGH)

(a)  &  (b)  :  Ministry  of  Power  /  Central  Electricity  Authority  (CEA)  monitor  coal stock available at all coal based power plants in the country on daily basis and publishes daily coal stock report.

According to the daily coal stock report, the coal stock available at coal based power plants of the country increased from 25.63 Million Tonnes (MT) as 31.03.2022 to 36.95 MT on 31.03.2023. The coal stock as on 26.07.2023 has slightly  reduced  to  about  34.97  MT.  However,  it  is  still  sufficient  to  run  these plants for an average of about 12 days at 85% Plant Load Factor (PLF).

State-wise details of coal stock is at Annexure.

……..2.

- (c) : The Government has taken following initiatives to ensure adequate availability of coal at thermal power plants end:-
- I. To address the issues of coal supplies to power sector, an Inter-Ministerial Sub Group comprising of representatives from Ministries of Power, Ministry of Coal, Ministry of Railways, Central Electricity Authority (CEA), Coal India Limited  (CIL)  and  Singareni  Collieries  Company  Limited  (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 to alleviate critical coal stock position in power plants.
- II. An  inter-ministerial  Secretary-level  meeting  is  held  regularly  to  monitor coal stocks.
- III. As per Railways, during 2022-23, the net induction of coal carrying wagons was about 8800 (about 150 rakes).During 2023-24, the likely net induction of  coal  carrying  rakes  would  be  about  200  rakes,  which  could  provide additional 50 rakes/day for coal loading. The expected increase in annual coal  transportation  capacity  on  account  of  wagon  induction  would  be about  70  Million  Tonnes  (MT).  Similarly,  likely  net  induction  of  coal carrying  rakes  in  2024-25  is  about  250  rakes,  which  could  provide additional 60 rakes/day. The expected increase in annual coal transportation capacity on account of wagon induction would be about 85 MT.
- IV. Railways have identified 40  number of projects for augmentation of coal evacuation. Out of 40 projects, 17 projects have already been completed and  23  projects  are  in  progress.  Out  of  23  projects,  it  is  expected  that about 18 projects would be completed by 2026-27.
- V. According  to  Railways,  likely  increase  in  coal  transportation  capacity during 2023-24 and 2024-25 is about 185 MT.
- VI. To enhance supply of domestic coal, Captive Coal Mine Production target for Financial Year 2023-24 is kept at 141 Million Tonnes in comparison to 102.69 MT for previous FY 2022-23.

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ANNEXURE ANNEXURE REFERRED IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) & (b) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2303 ANSWERED IN THE LOK SABHA ON 03.08.2023 ************** Depleting Coal Stock Reserves

|                | As on 31.03.2022   | As on 31.03.2022   | As on 31.03.2023   | As on 31.03.2023   | As on 26.07.2023   | As on 26.07.2023   |
|----------------|--------------------|--------------------|--------------------|--------------------|--------------------|--------------------|
| Name of State  | Stock (MT)         | Stock (Days)       | Stock (MT)         | Stock (Days)       | Stock (MT)         | Stock (Days)       |
| Haryana        | 1.0                | 14                 | 1.6                | 22                 | 1.4                | 20                 |
| Punjab         | 0.6                | 8                  | 1.3                | 17                 | 1.6                | 22                 |
| Rajasthan      | 0.6                | 6                  | 1.1                | 10                 | 1.1                | 10                 |
| Uttar Pradesh  | 4.3                | 13                 | 5.6                | 17                 | 5.3                | 16                 |
| Chhattisgarh   | 4.3                | 12                 | 5.3                | 15                 | 5.2                | 15                 |
| Gujarat        | 1.3                | 9                  | 1.5                | 10                 | 1.8                | 12                 |
| Madhya Pradesh | 3.0                | 10                 | 4.5                | 15                 | 3.7                | 13                 |
| Maharashtra    | 1.6                | 5                  | 3.6                | 10                 | 3.4                | 10                 |
| Andhra Pradesh | 0.6                | 4                  | 1.2                | 8                  | 1.1                | 7                  |
| Karnataka      | 0.3                | 3                  | 1.3                | 11                 | 1.3                | 12                 |
| Tamil Nadu     | 0.5                | 4                  | 2.0                | 13                 | 1.5                | 10                 |
| Telangana      | 0.8                | 8                  | 1.6                | 16                 | 1.0                | 11                 |
| Bihar          | 1.2                | 11                 | 1.2                | 11                 | 0.9                | 7                  |
| Jharkhand      | 1.1                | 20                 | 1.5                | 23                 | 1.3                | 20                 |
| Odisha         | 2.8                | 19                 | 2.1                | 14                 | 2.4                | 17                 |
| West Bengal    | 1.4                | 7                  | 1.5                | 8                  | 1.5                | 8                  |
| Assam          | 0.0                | 4                  | 0.1                | 14                 | 0.1                | 10                 |
| Total          | 25.6               | 9                  | 37.0               | 13                 | 35.0               | 12                 |

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