Bottlenecks in coal supply have gripped the power sector with several coal-based power stations reporting “critical” and even “super critical” stock position throughout December.

Official records show that on some days around 50 per cent of all the 75 thermal power stations in the country showed a coal stock position that would last for less than a week (regarded as critical) and in some stations, it was for less than four days (regarded as super critical). This is against the mandatory requirement to maintain a stock that would last for a month of power generation.

It is believed that a higher level of generation from coal plants, leading to greater coal consumption, along with less supplies from Coal India has resulted in this precarious situation. On some days in December, officials said that four out of the eight power plants in Maharashtra reported coal stocks of less than four days. The problem here was more on account of coal unloading constraints.

In the case of Haryana and Punjab, which have five coal-based thermal power plants and source coal from long distances by rail, on one day — December 4 — all five stations reported less than a week’s stock of coal. And here, the constraint was on account of less receipts from Coal India.

On certain days in the entire northern region — comprising Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Delhi, Punjab and Haryana — which has 20 coal power stations, more than 10 power plants reported stocks of less than a week.