With shortage in hydel and wind energy, KPCL to ramp up thermal power from January
Recently, KPCL managing director Rajendra Cholan met officials from the Ministry of Coal in New Delhi to discuss the coal requirement to ramp up thermal power.
Due to a shortage in hydel and wind energy, the Karnataka Power Corporation Limited (KPCL) is planning to ramp up thermal power generation starting from January 2027. Managing Director Rajendra Cholan informed officials from the Ministry of Coal in New Delhi about the increased coal requirement. Currently, KPCL procures 14 rakes of coal per day, generating an average of 50-60 million units (MU) of thermal power daily, equivalent to 56,000 tonnes of coal per day.
With reduced power generation from wind and hydel sources, KPCL plans to increase coal procurement to 17-18 rakes per day, producing 68,000-72,000 tonnes of coal per day. The Ministry of Coal has agreed to provide 40-50 lakh tonnes of coal this year, contingent on coal availability and requirements from other states. KPCL's Raichur, Ballari, and Yermarus thermal power stations will see an increase in power generation.
Additionally, arrangements are being made to boost coal supply from the Baranj Captive Coal Mine to 25,000 tonnes daily, currently at 16,000 tonnes. Coal from Western Coal Fields Limited and Mahanadi Coal Fields Limited is being requested, though insufficient coal is received from Telangana Singareni Colleries Company Limited (SCCL). Hydel power generation has decreased from 8,000 MW to 5,000 MW due to inadequate rainfall.
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