he NTPC had to shut down one of its 500MW power generating units on Tuesday owing to shortage of coal supply from Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL), further worsening the power crisis in Telangana.
The seven NTPC power plants in Ramagundam generate 2,600 MWs. Sources say the coal supply was drastically hit due to incessant rains as coal extraction from open cast projects (OCP) was reduced. The NTPC Ramagundam consumes about 38,000 tonnes of coal everyday.
The SCCL was supplying only 20,000 tonnes of coal in the recent past due to decline in coal production during monsoon rains against a normal supply of 35,000 tonnes per day. The NTPC has coal reserves of 40,000 tonnes against 3 lakh tonnes at its coal yard.
However, the NTPC authorities claimed that they had to shut down power generation due to technical reasons, but declined to elaborate.
Due to shortage of coal supply, the NTPC reduced power generation capacity in the rest of its six units. Against the installed capacity of 2,600 MWs, the NTPC Ramagundam is presently generating only 1,550 MW.
Sources said that authorities factored in an increase in hydel power generation in the State and also decline in demand for power when they shut down one of the units.
