Business Standard reported that the Andhra Pradesh government is contemplating taking up long term programs to maintain adequate coal stocks in the thermal stations for optimum generation.

Towards this, the government has requested the centre to issue necessary instructions for allocating additional coal blocks to public sector undertaking Singareni Collieries Company Limited so as to reduce the burden of coal imports.

The state has also urged the centre to support SCCL, which supplies coal to six major thermal power stations in addition to several small and medium enterprises, to become a role model in the implementation of technological advancements in the field of mining for enhancing coal production.

In a letter to the Centre, chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy said availability of coal reserves was essential for augmenting production capacity of SCCL.

To meet this requirement, SCCL has identified five coal blocks and has requested the union power ministry for allocation.

1. Kundanali-Labori (reserves of 364 million tonne) in Orissa
2. Burapahar (550 million tonne) in Orissa
3. Bandha (388 million tonne) at Singrauli in UP
4. Gand Bchera Ujhni (542 million tonne) at Singrauli in UP
5. Berpali-Kamitikra (179.5 million tonne) at Mand in Chhattisgarh

APGenco, the third largest power utility in the country, is catering to around 60% of the power needs of the state. For coal based thermal power plants, daily consumption of coal of around 73,500 tonne is met by SCCL, which supplies around 55,000 tonne per day and by Talcher coalfield of the Mahanadi Coalfields, which supplies around 15,000 tonne coal per day. In addition to this, APGenco is procuring imported coal of 3,500 tonne per day.

(Sourced from BS)