Tamil Nadu CM asks Centre to supply 72,000 MT coal daily

Chennai : Pointing to coal shortage for thermal power generation, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K. Palaniswami on Friday urged the central government to supply 72,000 tonnes of coal daily to help the state thermal plants towards optimal electricity generation.

In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday, which was released to the media, Palaniswami said: "At present, the thermal power stations of the Tamil Nadu government's power utility (TANGEDCO) have a stock sufficient only for three days."

On an average, 72,000 tonnes of coal is needed daily to ensure continuous generation in these power plants. "This translates to at least 20 rakes of coal daily. However, on an average we are receiving only 7 to 8 rakes," Palaniswami said.

According to him, the wind energy generation season was set to finish by mid-September, making the power availability situation precarious.

"Unless coal supply situation improves immediately, some of our thermal power stations will have to shut down, leading to outages in Tamil Nadu," the Chief Minister said.

"... kindly instruct authorities in the Ministries of Coal and Railways to ensure supply of 72,000 tonnes of coal per day to Tamil Nadu at the earliest," Palaniswami said.