Depleting coal inventories at thermal power plants amidst soaring mercury levels could result in an energy crisis in at least 12 states, warned engineers of state- owned units.

“The demand for coal had increased by 9 per cent compared with last year and only eight days’ coal was left in thermal power stations in 12 states of the country,” the All India Power Engineers Federation (AIPEF) chairman Shailendra Dubey said.

“The coal crisis is being witnessed in 12 states once again after October 2021,” he said, adding that in the first fortnight of April 2022, domestic power demand hit a 38-year high for the month. While there was 1.1 per cent power shortage in October 2021, this shortfall shot up to 1.4 per cent in April 2022.

Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Punjab, Jharkhand and Haryana are facing power cuts ranging from 3 per cent to 8.7 per cent.

He urged the government to take immediate steps to replenish the coal inventory in thermal power stations to avert the crisis situation.

“AIPEF has drawn the attention of Central and state governments towards the depleting coal inventory of domestic thermal power plants and has warned of an impending energy crisis in 12 states,” he added.

In Uttar Pradesh, power demand has reached 21,000 megawatt (MW) while the supply is around 19,000MW to 20,000MW, he claimed. The 2,630MW Anpara Thermal Power Project, located at Sonebhadra, is at the pit head of a coal mine. There should be 5.96 lakh tonnes of coal in stock at Anpara, whereas at present it has only 3.28LT.

Similarly, the Harduaganj project should have 4.97LT of coal in stock but has only 65,700 tonnes. The Obra plant in the state should have 4.45LT in stock, while there is about 1 LT of coal stock left with it.