Mumbai: A strike by coalmine workers has affected power generation. Presently, MAHAGENCO is generating nearly 3,500 megawatts of power daily. With the state facing coal shortage and coal workers on strike, MAHADISCOM will purchase power from private players. Meanwhile, MAHAGENCO is praying for rain as the strike continues.
As the coalmine workers of Coal India are on strike across the country since the past two days, power generation from coal plants has been affected. At present, nearly 2,800 megawatts of power is generated, with 70 per cent of power generated through coal plants. Due to heavy rain, coal plants were receiving muddy, bad quality coal, leading to a coal shortage in the state since a few weeks. MAHAGENCO was expecting the rains to stop to receive good quality coal at the plants. Now however, the strike has become a hindrance.
A MSEDCL officer said, “Due to rains in Vidarbha, Satara and other parts of the state, the demand for power has gone down, which is a big help in avoiding power cuts.”
When the supply of coal is affected, MAH-AGENCO uses its hyd-raulic plants to generate power. But the Koyna power plant is also not running at full capacity presently. “One unit of 250 megawatts at the Koyna power plant has been closed due to technical reasons,” said an officer.
