POWER CRISIS AND SHORTAGE OF COAL
Published at : November 04, 2021
Many fold increase in the prices of natural gas in Europe. Closure of factories and industrial undertakings in China due to shortage of coal and drying up of fuel stations in UK where army was called to prevent violence makes it easy for us to understand global / universal energy crisis.
India is not unaffected by this world crisis. In our country the prices of natural gas have increased. Due to shortage of coal the power generation is adversely affected. Northern States are more affected due to reduction in power generation.
135 installed thermal power generating units account for 70 % of the power supply to the country. This makes it easy to understand the adverse effect of shortage of coal on the power generation in the country.
Variety of factors contributed to the grim situation leading to shortage of coal and resultant reduction in power generation and supply.
Firstly, there is high demand of electricity as the economy is recovering from the covid 19 pandemic. The increasing demand of electricity is evident from the fact that in August 2019 India consumed 106 billion units of power. However, in August 2021 the power consumption is 124 billion units.
Secondly, it was lower than normal coal accumulation by the power generating units during the period April to June.
Thirdly there was continuous rainfall in the coal bearing areas in August –September leading to reduction in coal production.
Fourthly, there was reduction in coal import by the power generating units due to increased international price of coal.
As a remedial measure in the short term we should step up the coal production and import of coal to meet the shortage of coal and the increasing demand of electricity and in the long run we should invest and make effective multiple sources of energy. We are also committed to the international community to reduce our emission by 33% by the end of 2030. We are also committed to meet 40 % of our energy requirement from the renewable sources of energy.
If we relentlessly work to achieve this target we would be able to considerably reduce our dependency on coal for the purposes of power generation and we will get energy from the clean sources.
India is not unaffected by this world crisis. In our country the prices of natural gas have increased. Due to shortage of coal the power generation is adversely affected. Northern States are more affected due to reduction in power generation.
135 installed thermal power generating units account for 70 % of the power supply to the country. This makes it easy to understand the adverse effect of shortage of coal on the power generation in the country.
Variety of factors contributed to the grim situation leading to shortage of coal and resultant reduction in power generation and supply.
Firstly, there is high demand of electricity as the economy is recovering from the covid 19 pandemic. The increasing demand of electricity is evident from the fact that in August 2019 India consumed 106 billion units of power. However, in August 2021 the power consumption is 124 billion units.
Secondly, it was lower than normal coal accumulation by the power generating units during the period April to June.
Thirdly there was continuous rainfall in the coal bearing areas in August –September leading to reduction in coal production.
Fourthly, there was reduction in coal import by the power generating units due to increased international price of coal.
As a remedial measure in the short term we should step up the coal production and import of coal to meet the shortage of coal and the increasing demand of electricity and in the long run we should invest and make effective multiple sources of energy. We are also committed to the international community to reduce our emission by 33% by the end of 2030. We are also committed to meet 40 % of our energy requirement from the renewable sources of energy.
If we relentlessly work to achieve this target we would be able to considerably reduce our dependency on coal for the purposes of power generation and we will get energy from the clean sources.
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