Strike to disrupt coal-fired generation across India

• 10 years ago (2014-03-11)
• Junior Isles

North America 1021

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Around 40 per cent of power generation in southern India will be hit by a three-day strike beginning on March 13th by the officers' association of monopoly coal miner Coal India. Most thermal plants in the rest of India will be unaffected as they have sufficient stocks of coal to last about two weeks.

The officers of the world's largest coal producer have threatened to go on strike due to poor pay, which has not been revised in six years despite repeated assurances to the contrary by the government.

Coal production will come to a halt as 20 000 officials go on strike because the Indian Mines Act stipulates mandatory supervision of mining operations by certified mines managers.

There are 14 plants, with a total capacity of over 7 GW, likely to suffer from limited coal stocks, and these plants may have to scale down or shut down generation during the strike period, according to a plant official.

The region likely to be affected by shutdowns has a total installed generating capacity of only around 18 620 MW.

Coal India supplies fuel to approximately 82 per cent of India’s coal-fired power plants, with practically all plants using the company's coal to some capacity.

Northern plants at risk of shutdown include the 1140 MW station at Paricha, the 1820 MW plant at Dadri and the 1050 MW Unchahar facility.

In western India, the 1340 MW Khaperkheda and 1130 MW Parli plants are likely to be affected, while in east India Durgapur Projects Ltd’s 630 MW plant, the 1260 MW Kolaghat plant and Sagardighi plant will all see disruption.