Hyderabad: Singareni coal supply to the power sector reached 40.51 lakh tonnes in August, with nearly 90 per cent going to power plants in Telangana.
Singareni Collieries Company Limited supplied 40,51,312 tonnes of coal to power utilities across the country during the month. Of this, 36,25,937 tonnes went to power utilities located in Telangana.
Therefore, nearly nine out of every 10 tonnes supplied by Singareni to the power sector reached generating stations in Telangana. The company accorded priority to the State as electricity consumption increased nationwide and thermal power stations required higher coal supplies.
Several power utilities elsewhere in the country also sought coal from Singareni amid rising electricity demand linked to El Niño conditions. However, the company continued to give first priority to Telangana’s power requirements.
Singareni coal supply supports uninterrupted power
The Singareni coal supply strategy followed directions from Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and Deputy Chief Minister and Energy Minister Bhatti Vikramarka. They had directed the company to support uninterrupted electricity supply across Telangana. Accordingly, Singareni maintained continuous coal supplies to power generating stations in the State.
The company also supported the electricity sector during periods of increased demand. Its coal supplies contributed to meeting the energy requirements linked to the State’s industrial and economic activity. Singareni had been supplying its coal to public-sector power utilities covered by long-term fuel supply agreements.
As part of these arrangements, the company supplied coal to power utilities in Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu. These supplies had continued for several decades and supported the energy requirements of the respective states.
Singareni coal supply rises in importance amid El Niño
Electricity demand had increased significantly even during the monsoon because of prevailing El Niño conditions.
Consequently, power utilities across the country looked to Singareni for additional coal supplies. Several utilities sought supplies from the company as thermal power generation requirements increased.
Despite the wider demand, Singareni continued to prioritise Telangana in line with State government directions. In August alone, Telangana power utilities received 36.25 lakh tonnes out of the total 40.51 lakh tonnes supplied to the country’s power sector.
Thus, Telangana generating companies accounted for almost 90 per cent of Singareni’s coal dispatches to power utilities during the month. The allocation reflected the company’s decision to place Telangana’s electricity requirements ahead of demand from utilities elsewhere amid increased power consumption.