DHNS reported that the AP state is in for a severe power crisis before the summer sets in with the stockyard of Raichur Thermal Power Station now having only 20,000 tonnes of coal stock on Tuesday to generate power.

Earlier, the state had faced a similar crisis when coal supply to RTPS was disrupted after workers of Singareni which was supplying coal to the station, took part in a protest demanding formation of a separate Telangana state. The coal crisis which was severe last year, is continuing in 2012 too.

Due to lack of coal, two units of the eight at RTPS had to stop power generation from Sunday while only unit 2 could resume generation on Tuesday. At present about 1,200 MW power is being generated, according to sources in RTPS. The station generates about 1,720 MW power from eight units which meets 35% of the state’s total demand.

About 25,500 tonnes of coal is required daily to run eight units. On Tuesday, only six rakes of coal arrived at RTPS. Power is being generated with the available coal with supplies from Singareni in Telangana, Maharashtra and Orissa not arriving here.

Energy Minister Shobha Karandlaje told Deccan Chronicle over phone on Monday that due to the ‘stepmotherly’ attitude of the Union government, the state had not been receiving its share of coal. If coal does not arrive on time, power generation at hydel power projects would be stepped up.

(Sourced from www.deccanchronicle.com)