October saw highest power shortage in over 5 years
- India recorded a power supply shortage of 1,201 million units in October 2021 — the highest in 5.5 years — due to a crunch in coal stocks available with thermal plants.
- The shortage was mostly restricted to Gujarat, Haryana, Jharkhand, Punjab and Rajasthan.
- Union Minister for Coal Pralhad Joshi pointed out that international coal prices had increased more than three times recently, which resulted in a 38% decrease in imports, at the same time, electricity demand had gone up by more than 24%.
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October, Gujarat recorded a power shortage of 215 million units, the highest for any month in more than a decade. With a shortage of 77 million units, Jharkhand too recorded its highest deficit in more than a decade.
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Bihar recorded 120 million units of shortage in October, the highest for any month in 8.5 years.
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Haryana saw 113 million units of shortage, the highest in about nine years.
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Punjab’s deficit stood at 121 million units, the highest in seven years.
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Rajasthan witnessed 242 million units of power shortage last month, the highest in over nine years.
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As on November 5, about 32 plants have less than four days of coal stock. Sixty-five plants have between four and nine days of stock. About 35 plants have between 10 and 19 days of stock."