Coal demand to exceed domestic supply in this fiscal

NEW DELHI: The Centre has projected that the overall coal demand will outstrip the domestic supply in the current financial year.

The development assumes significance in the wake of certain parts of the country grappling with power outages in the wake of a shortage of coal.

While the overall coal demand in FY2022-23 is expected to be 1,029 million tonnes (MT), the domestic supply of fossil fuel is estimated to be 974 MT, according to the latest medium-term projections of dry fuel by the coal ministry.

Of the overall demand in the current fiscal, the power sector accounts for the major chunk of 735 MT and the remaining 294 MT by the non-power sector.

However, the estimated domestic supply of coal at 1,304 MT is expected to exceed the overall coal demand of1,134 MT in the next financial year.

In FY'28 the overall demand for dry fuel is likely to be 1,313 MT and the domestic supply is projected at 1,456 MT.

In the 2029-30 financial year, the domestic supply of dry fuel at 1,511 MT is again expected to surpass the demand at 1,448 MT.

''In order to meet the peak energy demand,it has been imperative to track the performance of the several sectors contributing in the energy sector....(therefore) after detailed discussion with Coal India Ltd and coal consuming sectors, Ministry of Coal has estimated the projection of coal demand up to 2029-30,'' the ministry said.

Last month, the coal ministry said that the current power crisis is mainly due to the sharp decline in electricity generation from different fuel sources and not due to the non-availability of domestic coal.

Coal Secretary A K Jain had attributed the low coal stocks at power plants to several factors such as heightened power demand due to the boom in the economy post-COVID-19, the early arrival of summer, a rise in the price of gas and imported coal, and a sharp fall in electricity generation by coastal thermal power plants.

He was of the view that a slew of measures is already underway to enhance the total power supply in the country.

The gas-based power generation which has fallen drastically in the country has aggravated the crisis.

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