PANAJI
Power Minister Nilesh Cabral has categorically denied any impact of the nationwide coal shortage on Goa’s power supply for the moment even as the country is facing a severe shortage of coal leaving several thermal power plants without fuel.
“Goa will have absolutely no impact of coal shortage on power supply. We have very strong power purchase agreements in place for supply of firm power," said Cabral.
Supplies across the majority of coal-fired thermal power plants in India have dwindled to just days worth of stock.
It is unlikely how long the situation will last, but it is likely to affect other sectors including manufacturing, business at a time when the country enters into festive season.
Eight power plants in Uttar Pradesh have stopped functioning. Six other power plants have been shut in the state due to other reasons, taking the total of temporarily stopped power plants to 14.
Delhi joined a long queue of states including Tamil Nadu and Odisha that have raised concerns over long power cuts due to shortage of coal in power plants.
"If coal supply doesn't improve, there will be a blackout in Delhi in two days," the Power Minister Satyendra Jain said. "The coal-fired power plants that supply electricity to Delhi have to keep a minimum coal stock of one month, but now it has come down to one day," Jain said.
