New Delhi. In view of the increasing demand for electricity in the country, the Central Government has intensified preparations to increase electricity production. The government has directed more than 112 captive coal-based power plants with capacity of 50 MW or more to run at full capacity. This system will be in force from 1 October to 31 December 2026.
Preparation to increase electricity availability
The aim of the government is to avoid any problem in supply as the demand for electricity increases in the coming months. According to government data in September, fuel stocks in about 40 percent of coal-based power plants had reached extremely low levels. Hot weather and increasing electricity consumption have been cited as the main reasons for this.
In view of these circumstances, the government has decided to keep captive power plants ready for maximum production. Captive plants are generally used by large industrial establishments to meet their power needs.
Many companies including Tata, Reliance are in the scope
Plants of companies like Tata, Reliance, Vedanta, JSW, Hindalco, UltraTech Cement and Indian Oil are also said to be included in the scope of this arrangement. If there is excess power left in these plants after meeting their needs, instructions have been given to sell it through power exchange.
Let us tell you that the government has taken this step as part of comprehensive preparations to ensure strong electricity availability. The Ministry of Power has earlier also been issuing instructions under Section 11 to keep generation capacity available at times of increasing demand.
Report will have to be given every week
These plants will have to report to the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) every week on power production and coal status. The report will include information such as production, own consumption, sale of excess power, available capacity and coal stocks. This will help the government to continuously monitor the power generation and fuel situation and try to maintain availability in case of increase in demand.