As per CEA report, total loss of thermal generation in country in current financial year up to August end is 26.11 billion units (BU). This includes loss of generation from shortage of coal 10.33 BU, wet/ poor coal quality 2.03 BU, backing down/ shut down of units 3.45BU, transmission constraints 3.77BU and gas shortage (up to July) 6.53BU.

Besides the above, thermal generation during August 2012 got adversely affected on account of lower thermal generation subsequent to the two grid disturbances on 30th and 31st of July. The thermal generation in country during August was 56.69 BU which was less by 1.89 BU than its target fixed for the month.

The plant load factor (PLF) of thermal stations during August was reduced to 61.41% against target PLF of 65.33%. Last year during August the corresponding PLF was 66.19%. The PLF of coal-based stations during April and August this year further reduced to 61.05% and 69.67% respectively. PLF of private generating thermal plants was also reduced from 66.15% to 53.58% as compared to August last year.

The report mentions that during the month, 90 % of the total requirement of coal was available. The thermal power stations received about 31 million tons (MT) of coal against the demand of 34.4 MT. Ending August 31, thermal plants had critical coal stock i.e. less than 7 days and out of these 18 plants had coal stock of less than 4 days.

HPGCL was assigned target to import 2000 million tonnes of coal but has practically imported nil coal.