Hyderabad: Heavy rains have slashed coal production at Singareni, creating a coal shortage that is impacting thermal power generation across Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
While daily demand stands at 2.2 lakh tonnes, actual production has dropped to around 1.5 lakh tonnes. Surface mining operations have halted in multiple zones due to waterlogging.
Coal from Singareni fuels both thermal power stations and industrial consumers. Power plants are required to maintain a minimum stock of 22 days’ supply. But the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) reported on Saturday that the Bhadradri power plant near Edulla Bayyaram currently has stock for only 14 days.
CEA categorises any plant with coal below the 22-day threshold as being in the red zone.
13 thermal plants nationwide fall below safety stock
Across India, 13 thermal plants are facing critical coal shortages. This includes Bhadradri in Telangana and the Rayalaseema power plant in Andhra Pradesh.
The CEA noted that delays in coal imports are partly responsible. Six of the affected plants were expecting foreign coal shipments that have not yet arrived.
In Andhra Pradesh, plants rely on coal from the Mahanadi mines in Odisha and coastal shipping. Delays along these routes have further strained supplies.
Northern plants are stable, south faces crunch
India’s 184 thermal power plants require daily coal shipments to support a combined capacity of 2.15 lakh megawatts. The coal shortage is most acute in southern states—Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and West Bengal.
CEA reported no shortages in northern India. These plants continue receiving an uninterrupted supply from Coal India mines.
