Ahmedabad: GujaratPower generation from coal-fired thermal power plants halved in October as private sector plants struggled to generate electricity due to rising prices of imported coal.
The state’s thermal coal-fired power generation declined 56% to 3,465GWh (gigawatt hours) in October 2021 from 7,877GWh during the same month last year, shows the Central Electricity Authority’s (CEA) provisional monthly report for October.
A sharp reduction in power generation by private sector plants, including those that run on imported coal, reduced the total electricity generated from coal-fired power plants in October.
Private sector production from coal fell 70% to 1,858GWh from 6,142GWh. According to the report, the production for October 2021 was only 32% of the targeted production of 5,839GWh.
“Rising prices of imported coal have mainly affected production at private sector power plants,” said city-based energy and regulatory expert KK Bajaj. Imported coal based plants in the state stopped production as the production became impractical due to high prices of imported coal.
“On the other hand, domestic coal shortage has affected production in state-run power plants,” Bajaj said. Generation from state-run coal-fired power projects declined 8% to 1,607GWh in October this year from 1,735GWh during the same period last year. In fact, state sector plants produced 79% of the 2,038GWh of electricity it was targeted to produce in October.
As the demand for electricity rose along with economic activity after the second wave of the pandemic, Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam Limited (GUVNL), a state-owned power distribution company, had to buy power from the power exchange at higher prices to meet the growing demand. .
Power generation from coal was also lower in September. In fact, there was some improvement in the level of production in October as compared to September.
The state’s thermal coal-fired power generation declined 56% to 3,465GWh (gigawatt hours) in October 2021 from 7,877GWh during the same month last year, shows the Central Electricity Authority’s (CEA) provisional monthly report for October.
A sharp reduction in power generation by private sector plants, including those that run on imported coal, reduced the total electricity generated from coal-fired power plants in October.
Private sector production from coal fell 70% to 1,858GWh from 6,142GWh. According to the report, the production for October 2021 was only 32% of the targeted production of 5,839GWh.
“Rising prices of imported coal have mainly affected production at private sector power plants,” said city-based energy and regulatory expert KK Bajaj. Imported coal based plants in the state stopped production as the production became impractical due to high prices of imported coal.
“On the other hand, domestic coal shortage has affected production in state-run power plants,” Bajaj said. Generation from state-run coal-fired power projects declined 8% to 1,607GWh in October this year from 1,735GWh during the same period last year. In fact, state sector plants produced 79% of the 2,038GWh of electricity it was targeted to produce in October.
As the demand for electricity rose along with economic activity after the second wave of the pandemic, Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam Limited (GUVNL), a state-owned power distribution company, had to buy power from the power exchange at higher prices to meet the growing demand. .
Power generation from coal was also lower in September. In fact, there was some improvement in the level of production in October as compared to September.
,