Fuel supply to power stations from Coal India’s mines has risen 17% in September to 32 MT (million tonne) from 27.4 million tonne in the year-ago period as the government scrambled to meet spike in demand as a result of thermal power stations stepping up operations to meet shortfall from other sources.

According to the coal ministry’s monthly summary for the Cabinet, Coal India’s supplies to power stations was 6.8% higher at 205.5 MT in the April-September period than the previous corresponding period. Coal India is the anchor source for coal, accounting for 80% of supplies. The latest figures will, thus, come as a relief to the coal ministry, which has found itself on the defensive following low stocks at power stations across the country in spite of double-digit growth in Coal India’s production.

As TOI first reported on August 26, the spectre of coal shortage had returned to haunt power plants across the country after a gap of three years due to a combination of several factors. The Dhanbad-Chandrapura railway line was shut on safety fears just when Coal India was in the middle of reducing its pithead stocks by pulling back production. Next, unprecedented rains hit Central Coalfields Ltd production.

The situation was compounded by September as nuclear generation fell 36%, wind 14% and hydel 12%. Supplies from Bhutan also dropped. Naturally, this unmet demand shifted to coal-fired plants, a fact supported by Central Electricity Authority data showing 17% growth in thermal generation in August. As thermal plants operated at 58% capacity in August against 51.59% in the year-ago period, coal demand spiked by 20 million tonne.

This spike coincided with power stations drawing down coal stockpiles by half in February to reduce inventory costs as timely supply had become the new normal. Just when stocks were pared to about 11 days or less, the sweaty season demand spiked in August and coal supplies got disrupted. Even as coal supplies are rising, the switching of load from other sources put power station back to square one.

Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/cil-raises-supplies-17-in-sept-as-coal-demand-spikes/articleshow/61178116.cms

The railway ministry has decided to give more powers to its two nodal bodies to redevelop stations and its land, a senior official said.

The two bodies — Railway Land Development Authority (RLDA), and Indian Railways Station Development Corporation (IRSDC) — are set to get powers to deal with all big decisions on the commercial use of railway land and developing stations, the official said.

The ministry has also formed a high-powered committee which will give recommendations on ways to further strengthen the bodies which will, in turn, speed up the execution of projects.

“The issue of exploiting railway land for commercial use is being looked into afresh and the organisation handling this subject – RLDA – is being further strengthened and empowered to take care of this work effectively, especially big land parcels,” Railway Board chairman, Ashwani Lohani, told PTI.

“Similarly, in the case of Station Redevelopment Program (SRP), we have decided to expedite their operations by strengthening the IRSDC further,” Lohani said.

The decisions have been taken based on directions issued by Railway Minister Piyush Goyal.

The minister has made it clear, in his meetings with the members of the board, that no department can work in silos and strengthening existing bodies and empowering them should be the goal to deliver work faster, an official said.

The committees plan, the official said, will be the blueprint for other such bodies.

“So, now, all the land-related projects will be handled by one department ?- RLDA — and all station-related decisions will be taken by the IRSDC. Basically, there will be clarity in the processes involved,” said the official, adding that this will expedite processes as files will move faster within the departments.

Similarly, the One ICT (information, communication, and technology) plan is working as a core group within the IT Directorate and not as a separate body.

“Now, it will be part of the bigger IT directorate which works on all IT infrastructure-related activities of the national transporter,” the official said.

The One ICT was created to set up an integrated software that would bring various functions of the railways ? passenger reservation, movement of goods trains, asset management and other functional requirements of the national transporter ? under one roof.

“The ministers focus is on strengthening and empowerment of field offices and field functionaries through delegation of powers, simplification of processes, total clarity on the implementation strategy.. These steps to bring related aspects of operations under one nodal body is a step in that direction,” Lohani said.

Goyal has told the officials that streamlining file movement and communication between different departments would ensure that safety projects are completed in time.

In fact, after the Elphinstone bridge stampede in Mumbai, Goyal had also given unlimited powers to the General Managers for 18 months for safety-related issues and questioned why the file for the tender of an additional FOB was delayed.

“The minister has motivated railway employees to adapt new work culture and work in a mission mode to meet the targets and achieve results,” the official said. PTI ASG CHT CHT

Source: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/rly-to-give-more-teeth-to-land-andamp-station-redevelopment-bodies/1/1072867.html

Key Takeaways:

• Data on coal production & thermal power generation provides correct picture
• Steps by Coal India have resulted in a substantial increase in supply to the power sector over the last two months
• In August, coal supplies were 14.4% greater than in August 2016. Similarly, the supply in September grew by 21%. The growth could be even higher for October (29% till October 11)
• In September 2017, 193 rakes were supplied daily to the power sector, which has further increased to 206 in October
• Overall, till date, the coal off-take of Coal India has grown by 8.3% this fiscal year
• In this period, there has also been a substantial growth in coal production. September saw a 10% growth in production as compared to September 2017By Policy Analyst
  
  Reports claiming a shortfall in coal supply based on low stock with thermal power plants (TPPs) seem to be taking a narrow perspective of the prevailing situation. Data on coal production and thermal power generation from the last few months provide an accurate picture of the scenario.Every year, the supply of coal is relatively lower during the Monsoon due to the weather conditions. This year, the annual occurrence coincided with a decline in power generation from various sources. Production of electricity through windpower and hydro generation was reduced by 1,000 MW each in August and September. There was a 12% decline in hydro generation in August 2017 as compared to August 2016. Nuclear Power generation has also fallen by 2,000 MW during August and September. Imported power from Bhutan was also lowerin this period. The simultaneous occurrence of all these developments resulted in an additional burden on thermal power. The increase in thermal power generation subsequently led to a spurt in coal demand by 20 MT.

  How did Coal India fare in addressing this increased demand? Since April 2016, TPPs started reducing their coal stock. This led to a concomitant increase in the pithead stock of Coal India. On April 1, 2017, the coal stock of TPPs was 28 MT; 11 MT less than the stock held a year back. In the same period, there was a substantial rise in pithead stock kept by Coal India — from 38 MT to 68 MT. Incidentally, this was an all-time high level of pithead stock. This reaffirms the broad trends in coal production. In the last three years, there has been a huge increase in aggregate production by Coal India. Thus, it would be misleading to claim a shortage of coal by merely looking at the number of coal plants with low stock.

  Concentrated steps by Coal India have resulted in a substantial increase in supply to the power sector over the last two months. In August, coal supplies were 14.4% greater than in August 2016. Similarly, the supply in September grew by 21%. The growth could be even higher for October (29% until October 11). In September 2017, 193 rakes were supplied daily to the power sector, which has further increased to 206 in October. To ensure availability of rakes for long-distance supply, plants within 60 kilometres have been asked to make greater use of roadways for coal transportation.

  Overall, until now, the coal offtake of Coal India has grown by 8.3% this fiscal year. This increase in supply for TPPs does not seem to be coming from a massive reduction in pithead stock or transfer from other sectors. In this period, there has also been a substantial growth in coal production. For instance, September saw a 10% growth in production as compared to September 2017.

  In the data, it is evident that availability of surplus coal with Coal India has allowed the government to tide over the increased demand.

  Sources:

  How is Coal India Addressing the Increased Demand for Coal from the Power Sector?

  
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