No More Power Cuts To Take Place Due To Coal Shortage, Average Coal Stock Of 12 Days Available: Prahalad Joshi

Coal minister Prahalad Joshi further stated that Coal India — which accounts for over 80 per cent of domestic coal output — is importing coal as a precautionary measure

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New Delhi: Coal Minister Prahalad Joshi on Friday assured that the country would not face any more power outage due to coal shortage, reported news agency PTI. Responding to a question during an event, Joshi said, “"I can fully assure that it won't happen." The minister further said that as on date the thermal power plants have an average coal stock of almost 12 days.

Joshi’s statement comes just weeks after low coal stocks at power plants crippled country’s power generation. 

Replying to a question on recent reports on coal shortage, the minister said that no part of the country faced power shortages due to scarce fuel. He added there was a coal stock of four-five days at thermal power plants but the environment was created that after four to five days it will become totally dark.

Stating that there is replenishment of coal stock on a day-to-day basis adding that coal is being continuously sent to the plants, "the impression was being created that it was going to be dark," Joshi said.

The coal minister further stated that Coal India — which accounts for over 80 per cent of domestic coal output — is importing coal as a precautionary measure to tide over the crisis which may erupt due to waterlogging in the mines during monsoons.

In a statement issued by the coal ministry today, it was stated that the government has initiated a number of reforms to further increase the production of coal to meet the growing energy demands of the nation.