Jaipur: The recent coal shortage and parallel arrangements made by the Rajasthan government to meet the rising demand by importing coal from other countries, including Indonesia and South Africa, during the summer season will further pinch the common man.
Consumers can expect hike in power rates by 41 paisa per unit. The power agencies are already in the process of purchasing 3.38 lakh metric tonne and consumers will have to share the burden of the costly purchase, worth approximately Rs 527 crore.
A senior official said the purchase was being made on the directions of the central government. In a bid to avert a power crisis during the summer months in 2023, the union power ministry has directed all power generation companies in the country to blend imported coal up to 6% of their requirement till September.
An official said, “The power demand in the state has been hovering around 13,000 MW in summers and is expected to touch around 16,500MW during the peak period. Rajasthan has placed an order for 3.38 lakh tonne of imported coal, which will cost it about Rs 520 crore.”
The coal imported from other countries costs about $200 per tonne (Rs 15,000), while the cost of coal procured within India is Rs 5,000. The additional cost will ultimately be borne by the consumer.
An official said a request has been made to Coal India to provide the maximum Indian coal it can as the cost burden has to be passed on to the consumer. “The state has 3240MW capacity thermal power stations. To avoid coal crisis in monsoon, the state plans to stock the coal beforehand. However, if procurement cost is increased, it will be passed on to the consumers in form of a quarterly fuel surcharge adjustment. We will request for maximum Indian coal,” he said.
Consumers can expect hike in power rates by 41 paisa per unit. The power agencies are already in the process of purchasing 3.38 lakh metric tonne and consumers will have to share the burden of the costly purchase, worth approximately Rs 527 crore.
A senior official said the purchase was being made on the directions of the central government. In a bid to avert a power crisis during the summer months in 2023, the union power ministry has directed all power generation companies in the country to blend imported coal up to 6% of their requirement till September.
An official said, “The power demand in the state has been hovering around 13,000 MW in summers and is expected to touch around 16,500MW during the peak period. Rajasthan has placed an order for 3.38 lakh tonne of imported coal, which will cost it about Rs 520 crore.”
The coal imported from other countries costs about $200 per tonne (Rs 15,000), while the cost of coal procured within India is Rs 5,000. The additional cost will ultimately be borne by the consumer.
An official said a request has been made to Coal India to provide the maximum Indian coal it can as the cost burden has to be passed on to the consumer. “The state has 3240MW capacity thermal power stations. To avoid coal crisis in monsoon, the state plans to stock the coal beforehand. However, if procurement cost is increased, it will be passed on to the consumers in form of a quarterly fuel surcharge adjustment. We will request for maximum Indian coal,” he said.
