New Delhi: Amid power plants facing coal shortage, the Centre Tuesday said that power demand in the country shot up to record 201.066 Gigawatt (GW).
The demand has exceeded last year's maximum consumption of 200.539 GW which occurred on July 7, 2021, informed the ministry of power, reported news agency ANI.
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What does it means for the nation?
The rise in demand for power reflects the economic growth in the country, said the ministry. In March this year, the growth in energy demand has been around 8.9 per cent, which is estimated to reach about 215-220 GW in May-June.
"The government and other stakeholders are working together to ensure unhindered power supply and efforts at all fronts are being made and measures are being taken for better utilisation of various resources," said the Ministry of Power.
Solution to coal shortage
In order to address the issue of coal shortage, minister for power RK Singh on Monday met railways minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. Both discussed measures to enhance efficiency in coal transport to power plants.
All stakeholders at the Centre and state level have been asked to work together for an unhindered power supply, the ministry of power said in a statement, as reported by ANI.
Power Gencos have been asked to own freight rakes under the scheme of the Ministry of Railways to deal with logistic constraints in coal supply. The ministry of railways has deployed additional trains and rakes to ensure swift supply of coal to power plants across the country.
Indian Railways has ramped up coal transportation resulting in 32 per cent more coal freight loading between September 2021 and March 2022.
There has also been an increase in 10 per cent freight, by efficiently mobilising resources after April 2022, the ministry said.