India Taking Emergency Steps to Deal with Coal Shortages

Mining Weekly reported yesterday that the Indian government has ordered coal miners in the country to “launch emergency measures” in order to deal with coal shortages facing thermal power producers. One-third of the power plants in India are reportedly facing closure.

As quoted in the market news:

Coal India Limited (CIL) and Singareni Collieries Company Limited, the two government-owned and -managed coal miners, were directed on September 7 to rush coal feedstock to thermal power stations from pithead stocks using all available logistical and transportation facilities to avoid a looming power crisis, an official in the Coal Ministry said.

The federal government’s policy and advisory body, the Central Electricity Authority, reported that, from the start of September, 29 of the 100 thermal power plants in the country had reported coal stocks below ‘super critical levels’ or stocks less than four days. As many as 56 plants had coal stocks of less than seven days which was considered ‘critical level.’

Click here to read the full Mining Weekly report.