India Orders More Than 100 Captive Coal Plants to Maximise Power Output

A coal-fired power plant in India. The government has ordered more than 100 captive plants to maximise output from October. Photo credit: Unsplash.

NEW DELHI – India has ordered more than 100 captive coal-fired power plants to operate at maximum capacity from October 1 through the end of the year as the government prepares for higher electricity demand.

The directive from the federal power ministry applies to captive plants with installed capacity of at least 50 megawatts. The order uses emergency provisions under the Electricity Act.

Captive power plants are facilities operated primarily to supply electricity to the industries that own them. Increasing their output can help strengthen electricity availability during periods of high demand.

The government expects power requirements to rise, making additional generation capacity important for maintaining supply.

The directive comes as India’s electricity sector faces pressure from increasing demand and fuel availability concerns.

The order is scheduled to remain in effect from October 1 through the end of December.

The move highlights the government’s effort to ensure sufficient electricity generation as demand changes across the country.

Coal remains an important part of India’s power-generation system, although the country is also expanding renewable-energy capacity.

The latest order does not mean that all electricity in India will come from coal-fired plants. Rather, it directs a specific group of captive coal plants to maximise their available output during the specified period.

Source: Reuters / Economic Times.