Goyal urges Railways, Power, Coal ministries to work together for 24X7 power supply nationwide

In an effort to ensure 24X7 power supply to people in the country in view of the hot summer conditions ahead, Union Minister Piyush Goyal on Friday urged ministries of railways, power and coal to work in coordination and also asked power plants to increase their plant load factor (PLF), according to a statement.

"Goyal stressed on the necessity to increase PLF of various power plants of the country. He said all pithead plants with sufficient coal supply should run at 100 per cent PLF. (He) urged that team work and better coordination among ministries to ensure 24X7 power supply for the people of India," the Coal Ministry said in a statement.

Plant load factor is the amount of power a plant is producing as against its total capacity. In this regard, the Railways and Coal Minister chaired a review meeting with R K Singh, Minister of State (IC) for Power and New and Renewable Energy here.

According to the statement, Goyal has also instructed the officials of the three ministries to keep a close watch on the power production and supply situation in the country and work in coordination with chief secretaries and power secretaries of the states.

Goyal also reviewed power supply requirement during the ongoing summer and forthcoming winter season besides discussing short-term, medium-term and long-term measures to improve the coal stock position in power plants of the country.

"Further, the minister stressed on the need for states located far from mines to use provisions under 'flexibility of utilisation of coal' rules, so that this coal can be used by those power stations near the coal source," the statement said.

Gujarat and Maharashtra have already been using these provisions, the statement added.