The onset of the northeast monsoon has brought cheer to officials of the Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (TANGEDCO), as electricity consumption has gradually come down during the past one week.
The total consumption on Friday was 172.45 million units against 212.19 million units recorded on October 21. Energy demand has reduced, mainly from the agricultural sector, because of the rains, according to a TANGEDCO official in Coimbatore.
On Saturday morning (7.50 a.m.), the quantum of load shedding was 226 MW against 1,234 MW on October 14. Power purchase from the market on Saturday was only 725 MW as against 1,406 MW on October 14.
Another official of the TANGEDCO said that except for the power cut for industry, the scheduled two-hour load shedding was not being carried out in several parts of the State during the last three days.
To face any sudden rise in demand, the authorities are planning to draw power from the gas-based 330.5 megawatt (MW) Pillaiperumal Nallur power station.
On reports of coal shortage, the official said that as on date, the coal available at the various stock yards of thermal stations would be sufficient for four to five days.
The Union Coal Ministry, which is reviewing the coal stock position of power plants throughout the country, went on record on Thursday saying that three power plants located in Tamil Nadu were having less than four days' coal stock. During the period of strike in Singareni Collieries Company Limited, railway rakes from Mahanadi Coal Limited (MCL) and other coal companies were diverted to Andhra Pradesh, which had resulted in reduced availability to the plants of Tamil Nadu.
The coal supplies from MCL to the plants has now picked up and the coal supply to Tamil Nadu is expected to improve shortly, according to a press release issued by the Ministry.
Giving details about the coal availability, the official of the TANGEDCO said of the four thermal power stations, Tuticorin and Mettur had 50,000 tonnes each; North Chennai – 30,000 tonnes and Ennore – 10,000 tonnes.
The total coal availability is 1.50 lakh tonnes including imported coal.
