The All India Power Engineers Federation (AIPEF) has called for an independent investigation into the current coal shortage at various thermal power plants in India, along with the increasing imports of dry fuel. The engineers’ body emphasizes that the central government should bear the additional costs incurred by power generation utilities due to coal imports.
AIPEF Demands Independent Enquiry into Coal Shortage and Imports
1. Probe into Shortage: AIPEF insists on a comprehensive inquiry into the shortage of coal at thermal power plants.
2. Government Responsibility: The engineers’ body asserts that the central government should bear the additional costs associated with coal imports by power generation utilities.
3. Identifying Beneficiaries: AIPEF chairman Shailendra Dubey emphasizes the need to identify the main beneficiaries of coal imports.
4. Impact of Government Directives: The federation highlights that coal imports have surged following government directives mandating full capacity operation for imported coal-based plants and increased blending for domestic coal-based plants.
5. Sulphur Removal System: The statement calls for an examination of power stations’ readiness to install sulphur removal systems for imported coals, which typically contain sulphur unlike Indian coals.
6. Proper Blending by Coal India Limited: AIPEF suggests that the central government, through Coal India Limited (CIL), should ensure proper blending of imported coal and its supply to various plants based on their requirements.
7. Centralized Procurement: To avoid escalating costs, AIPEF recommends centralized procurement of imported coal if it becomes mandatory for generation companies.
8. Consequences and Critique: The statement expresses concerns that the coal crisis might have been engineered to facilitate coal imports, potentially leading to privatization of state utilities.
In light of the ongoing challenges in the power sector, AIPEF’s demands aim to address the immediate coal shortage issues, ensure responsible coal imports, and safeguard the interests of power generation entities and consumers. The federation urges a thorough investigation to shed light on the factors contributing to the crisis and to propose sustainable solutions.