Explained: India's coal shortage and power crisis, 8 hour blackouts begin

India is facing an acute coal shortage and a power crisis in over a dozen states as temperatures soar and rising demand are adding pressure to an already stretched power grid. Situation is especially worrisome in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh.

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It's getting hot, hot, hot

Temperatures have continued to soar in many parts of the country with heat-wave warnings being . The nation’s capital saw 42.4 degrees Celsius on April 9, its hottest day in five years. The average temperature for March is the highest on record since the weather department started collecting the data in 1901.

Taking stock of the coal

Domestic coal-based (DCB) plants have supplies for just over 8 days, imported coal-based (ICB) units have stocks for nine-and-a-half days. This compares to an average stock of 17 days held in April over the last five years.

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Critical power crisis

As per the Central Electricity Authority report on coal stock, as on April 18, of the total 173 thermal power plants in the country, 100 thermal power plants' coal stock situations are critical. The CEA marks a thermal power plant critical when its coal supply is 25% below average. 80 of these plants depend on domestic coal, while 11 plants depend on imported coal.

Digging for answers

While Railways blames the coal mining PSUs and power plants for delay in loading and unloading of rakes supplying the key commodity, Coal Ministry blames Railways for not supplying the requisite number of rakes. The issue of rakes comes up almost every year, particularly during the peak demand season from April to October.

Temperatures have continued to soar in many parts of the country with heat-wave warnings being issued. The nation’s capital saw 42.4 degrees Celsius on April 9, its hottest day in five years. The average temperature for March is the highest on record since the weather department started collecting the data in 1901.