Andhra Pradesh to buy 500 MW-1,500 MW daily to meet power demand

Andhra Pradesh power utilities have decided to buy power ranging from 500 MW to 1,500 MW daily based on demand from July to October to overcome the threat of extreme coal shortage to provide an uninterrupted power supply.

On Thursday, during a review by Minister for Energy Peddireddi Ramachandra Reddy on the power supply position with AP power utilities via video conference, the officials explained the steps being taken by the utilities to continue round-the-clock power supply despite the coal shortage that is likely in the coming months.

The officials explained that the thermal power plants across the nation may not be able to address the growth in power demand in the forthcoming months during the monsoon due to the severe shortage of coal that is likely due to the southwest monsoon. The rains may hinder the mining and transportation of coal in the nation.

Even though India had a capacity of mining over 1,500 million tonnes (mt) of coal the prior year, the total production was just 777 mt which is half of its production capacity. As the coal reserves are not at the predicted level at thermal power stations this year as well, and it may not be possible to raise adequate coal stocks, the country may encounter another coal shortage in the forthcoming months.

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