Power Demand Touches All-Time High Amid Heatwave. Coal Minister Joshi Says 'No Need To Panic'

“The maximum All India demand met touched 207111 MW at 14:50hrs today, an all-time high so far!,” the ministry tweeted.

Representative Photo (Image Source: Getty)

New Delhi: The Ministry of Power has informed the peak power demand in the country touched an all-time high of 207,111 MW on Friday.

“The maximum All India demand met touched 207111 MW at 14:50hrs today, an all-time high so far!,” the ministry tweeted.

This comes amid reports of power crisis in many states during the extreme heatwave.

With the people facing power cuts in different parts of the country, the demand for power has risen this month due to heatwave.

The steep rise in prices of imported coal due to the Russia-Ukraine conflict and some power plants not operating to their full capacity has accentuated this problem.

Union Coal Minister Pralhad Joshi has, amid reports of a dip in coal stocks with thermal plants, said that the country's thermal plants hold about 22 million tonnes of coal which is enough for 10 days and replenishment will be done continuously, ANI reported.

Joshi also said that coal companies have around 73 million tonnes of coal stock at their end while the thermal power plants have coal stock of 21.5 million tonnes.

Asserting there is “no need to panic”, Joshi assured the Central government is monitoring the situation.

“Whatever stock we have left of 7-10 days all over the country, is being daily replenished,” he said.

Jharkhand, Haryana, Bihar, Punjab and Maharashtra are among the states seeing power outages.

Delhi too has written to the Central government over the possibility of power cuts to important establishments.

The states and Union Territories are also taking steps to deal with the situation.

Meanwhile, the Indian Railways has decided to cancel 657 train trips to speed up the movement of coal rakes to power plants.