Maharashtra to import coal, acquire coal mine to meet power demands

Pune: The Maharashtra government announced on Friday its plans to import coal and acquisition of a coal mine from Chattisgarh for power generation after the state reached a severe power crisis and load-shedding situation, IANS reported.

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar told the media that coal is not supplied enough to meet the demands of the state, and it is forcing the administration to consider alternatives to fill the gap of around 3,500 MW-4,000 MW shortfall between the demand-supply. "A meeting to discuss the issue of load-shedding was held with Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray. We will take a review of the power department every week on the load-shedding," Pawar said.

The state Cabinet had authorized Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Co Ltd (MSEDCL) to purchase power from other states to quell the crisis, but for a short period, which is up to June 15.

The minister said that the Centre is not supplying the required quantity of coal to each state, but the state is trying, by all means, to keep the power distribution smooth across the state and to end the ongoing power cuts.

"Accordingly, the state has decided to make some imports from outside the country and get a coal mine allocated to the Maharashtra State Power Generation Company in Chhattisgarh, for which Energy Minister Dr Nitin Raut is working," he said.

The electricity demand in the state has risen after the summer heat and relaxation of Covid-19 curbs. Energy minister Raut had slammed the Centre last week for the lofty management of coal supplies.

The MSEDCL supplies 87 per cent of Maharashtra's power demand. Since March 2022, the use of power for agricultural purposes increased, and hot summer pushed power consumption to 28,489 MW, the highest order in the state, which is an 8.2 per cent increase from the previous year.