Coal crisis may leave India with few options to avoid power crunch
By Dr. Manmath Mohanty
Bhubaneswar : Amid concerns being expressed about a possible power crisis in the wake of reports of coal shortage in the country. Power shortages are already emerging, and the gap between available electricity supply and peak demand widened to more than 4 gigawatts on Monday, according to government data from power ministry. Apprehensions are being made do the coal crisis may lead India for a blackout. Though the government has clarified that any fear of disruption in power supply is entirely misplaced our analysis reveal that coal crisis may leave India with few options to avoid power crunch in the country.
Electricity India for FY 2019-2020
• Gross electricity generated (utilities) = 1,383.5 Thousand GWh
• Total electricity generation (utilities and non-utilities) = 1,598 Thousand GWh
• Gross electricity consumption = 1,208 KWh/capita
During the FY 2019-20, the gross electricity generated by utilities in India was 1,383.5 Thousand GWh and the total electricity generation (utilities and non-utilities) in the country was 1,598 Thousand GWh. The gross electricity consumption in FY 2019-20 has reached 1,208 KWh per capita.
• Electricity generated by Coal/lignite = ~ 10 lakh GWh
• Total electricity generated by non coal sources = 3.8 lakh GWh only
Coal/lignite accounts for 72% of the total gross electricity generated in the country. Out of 13.8 lakh GWh gross electricity generated in the country the electricity generated by Coal/lignite in FY 2019-20 was about 10 lakh GWh. The total electricity generated by all other mode (Gas/Oil/Hydro/ Nuclear/REC) i.e. non coal sources accounts for only 3.8 lakh GWh.
The consumption of electricity has gone upto 12.9 lakh GWh under different category of users having highest consumption for
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Industrial (5.5 lakh GWh)
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Domestic (3.1 lakh GWh)
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Agriculture (2.3 lakh GWh)
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Commercial (1.0 lakh GWh)
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Miscellaneous Category accounts for 0.8 lakh GWh
With the current demand for consumption in case of major breakdown in production and supply of coal the electricity generated through other non-coal resources can sustain only 30% of the total consumption.
The analysis reveals that there will be very few choices in case of major breakdown in generation of electricity from coal. The total consumption of electricity under domestic and miscellaneous category accounts for more than total energy generated from non-coal resources in our country. This means if we prioritize to meet the domestic requirement of our people in the country then entire uses of commercial, agriculture and industries have to be compromised. In other way if we give equal importance to all category of electricity consumption situation may lead to such that 104 crore of our population and 20.7 crores households will have to sustain without electricity.
