State allotted Pachhwara central coal mines

Aman Sood

Tribune News Service

Patiala, March 25

In a major shot in the arm for the state government, Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) has bagged the Pachhwara Central Coal Mines. The regular supply of coal from these mines is expected to resume from the new mines in the next six months, ensuring ample coal supply for the state’s thermal plants.

Sources in PSPCL confirmed that 38 mines were allotted to the state public sector units, including Punjab. “Now after the PSPCL finalises the tender for the mine developer-cum-operator, the work for coal excavation will start,” they said.

The PSPCL is again trying to extend the coal excavation and supply contract to PANEM till a new developer is finalized, so as to ensure that the coal supply resumes at the earliest. Experts maintain the new coal mine will fuel the three state-owned thermal plants for the next almost 30 years, which means the state will surely get 2,620 MW from the three thermal plants at Ropar, Bathinda and Lehra Mohabbat.

“We were allocated the Pachhwara mines yesterday and it would help us ensure a regular supply of coal in the next few months, once a developer is finalized,” confirmed CMD, PSPCL, KD Chaudhri. “At present, we have also coal stock reserve for almost over 25 days at all our thermal plants,” he added.

At present, the state is relying heavily on 3,920-MW supply that it expects from the three private thermal plants. At present, the state is getting only 2,060 MW from these plants. Rajpura Thermal Plant is the only project which is running to its full capacity. It is providing 1,400 MW power to the state. The Talwandi Sabo Thermal Plant is running only single unit out of three, (660 MW as against its capacity of 1,980 MW). The Goindwal Thermal Plant is yet to start operations.

In the current fiscal, the PSPCL and PANEM (the current coal-supplying company) had locked horns over the payment issue and the thermal plants were not getting sufficient coal supply. Despite efforts, the PSPCL had failed to sort out the issue with PANEM, which is adamant on its demand for a raise in the coal-purchase agreement.