The Ministry of Power on Saturday issued a circular for taking timely action for adequate coal availability for power generation.
A press release by the Ministry of Power said that it has been monitoring the coal supply situation in the country and has taken steps to ensure adequate coal supply and coal stocks based on the domestic coal received from Coal India Limited (CIL), Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) and Captive coal mines.
As per the decision taken in the Ministry of Power domestic coal supply will be made proportional to the coal received from CIL/SCCL for all the Gencos and it will not be possible to give more coal other than on a proportionate basis to make up any shortfall.
Circular on Coal Supply for Power Generation
The Ministry of Power has issued a circular directing the following action to be taken on priority in order to enhance the supply of domestic coal:-
- Production in captive coal mines allotted to power plants may be maximized to the limit permitted by Ministry of Coal.
- It has been reported that a number of power plants are taking much longer time than the norm in unloading coal from railway rakes which is affecting the turn-around time. CEA has been asked to monitor the unloading time at power plants and it has been decided that lesser number of rakes would be made available to such power plants where there is slackness in prompt unloading of coal from rakes. This step has been taken with the objective of maximizing the utilization of available railway rakes. Therefore, this aspect may be monitored at the level of State Government and unloading of coal may be ensured within the given norm.
- A number of generating companies have overdues of coal companies running in several hundred crores of rupees. Such huge overdue amounts affect the ability of coal companies to continue coal supply. Therefore, it is necessary that the bills of coal companies are paid in due time so that coal supplies to such generating companies is not affected on this account.
It has been observed that the non-operation of certain Imported Coal Based (ICB) plants in States had put more pressure on domestic coal demand leading to low coal stocks for domestic coal-based (DCB) plants.
Power Purchase Agreements
The Ministry said that the procurer and sellers are legally bound by the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) in force assigned by both parties.
While the procurers are bound to pay the bills timely as per PPA, the Gencos (sellers) are bound to maintain adequate fuel stocks and offer availability as per PPA.
Not maintaining adequate fuel stocks or not giving availability on any pretext (such as the high price of imported coal etc) is inexcusable.
Such conduct on the part of a seller should be immediately responded to by the procurer sternly by using all possible contractual and other available legal interventions at the level of State Government.
If any gaming is noticed on the part of the seller such as not supplying electricity under PPA and selling in the market should be brought to notice of the Regulatory Commission without any delay under intimation to the Ministry of Power for immediate intervention.
Indonesian Regulations and Imported Coal
However, it is understood that some of the imported coal-based power plants are facing issues in the PPA, due to changes in Indonesian Regulations and an increase in international coal prices.
These issues also need to be resolved on the basis of mutual negotiations in a just and transparent manner.
Against this backdrop, the power ministry said that states may ensure implementation of PPA with ICB plants with necessary contractual interventions or in extraordinary circumstances use statutory provisions of the Electricity Act 82003 to ensure generation and may approach the Ministry of Power for any intervention required in case of the inter-State plant.
Use of Renewable Energy
The Ministry said the Govt. of India has taken the following initiatives to promote the use of renewable energy and thereby bringing down the dependence of coal for power generation in existing power plants:-
Ministry of Power has been extending financial assistance to States for the separation of agriculture feeders and the same has been conveyed as one of the high priority items to be taken up in Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS).
States are also being advised to take up solarisation of such feeders under KUSUM. This may be taken up on priority with the objective of reducing dependence on coal for power supply to farmers for irrigation.
Ministry of Power has also issued the guidelines for co-firing of Biomass pellets in coal-based power plants up to the extent of 5 to 7%. This may also be taken up on priority.
A scheme has been formulated for bundling renewable energy-based electricity with coal-based generation by generating companies under the existing PPAs.
This will not only lead to reduced dependence on coal but also lead to cheaper electricity because the scheme envisages sharing of cost-saving with PPA holder distribution companies.
Central sector power generating companies NTPC and DVC have been directed to implement this scheme on priority. It is, therefore, imperative that the distribution companies should facilitate the implementation of this initiative.
In view of the increasing demand for electricity and the associated need for coal to ensure smooth functioning, as a short term measure, the Ministry of Power on 07.12.2021 had issued advisories to domestic coal-based power plants to import coal to meet their requirements by blending with imported coal to the extent of 4% by State Gencos and Independent Power Producers (IPPs).
The advisory said that necessary action may be taken to import coal in a transparent and competitive manner for blending purpose-based on-demand assessment and to deal with any shortfall of coal availability.