India orders captive coal plants to maximise power output as El Nino drives demand
The power ministry has invoked emergency provisions of the Electricity Act to order captive coal plants to maximise generation, sell surplus power on the exchanges and report weekly to the Central Electricity Authority.
Nearly 40 per cent of coal-fired plants are running on critically low fuel stocks as El Nino-driven heat pushes power demand sharply higher.
The September 25 order covers 112 plants owned by companies including Vedanta, Tata Steel, Hindalco, JSW Steel, UltraTech, Reliance and Indian Oil; Tata Power's imported-coal plant at Mundra has been ordered to run at full capacity till December 31.
Originally reported by Reuters. Article compiled by the Deccan Age desk.
