Coal shortage in India.....BIG HIT TO INDUSTRIES!!!

The government listed four reasons for the depletion of coal stocks at power plants -- the unprecedented increase in demand for electricity due to revival of the economy, heavy rains in coal mine areas, increase in the price of imported coal and legacy issues such as heavy dues of coal companies in certain states.

13 power plants shut due to coal shortage, MSEDCL asks customers to use power sparingly.
There is a shortfall of approximately 15-2000 MW and we are purchasing power from the open market even if the cost is as high as Rs 20 per unit.

Coal shortages across the country have led 13 thermal power plant units supplying power to Maharashtra State Electricity Regulatory Commission (MSEDCL) to temporarily shut down, prompting the state power utility to ask consumers to sparingly use electricity from 6 am to 10 am and from 6 pm to 10 pm to balance the demand and supply.

At present, power is being procured from the open market to fill the gap of 3330 MW between demand and availability of electricity. Due to the increase in demand for electricity across the country, the purchase price of electricity is becoming more expensive. 700 MW of electricity is being procured from the open market at a rate of Rs 13.60 per unit.

Power utility officials said that reducing the consumption of electricity during the peak demand period will reduce the gap between demand and supply and there will be no need for load sheding.