Bengaluru: An extended period of below-normal rainfall placed Karnataka's electricity sector under pressure from three converging factors — reduced hydropower output, growing power consumption, and thinning coal reserves at thermal stations — while sustained procurement efforts have helped build a degree of resilience. With multiple states facing comparable energy shortfalls, questions around the reliability of coal delivery have added to an already uncertain outlook. The state procured an additional 85 lakh tonnes of coal from various suppliers to maintain a reliable fuel flow to its thermal power plants. Interruptions to coal deliveries at three government-operated thermal power stations prompted unease among officials within the energy department. The three facilities — Raichur Thermal Power Station (RTPS), Ballari Thermal Power Station (BTPS) and Yermarus Thermal Power Station (YTPS), all situated in the Raichur district and managed by Karnataka Power Corporation Ltd (KPCL) — had a combined daily coal intake of roughly 15 rakes, with each rake holding approximately 4,000 tonnes. Daily coal deliveries fell to between 10 and 11 rakes, constrained by rainfall and heightened electricity consumption across mining regions. Power generation was consequently affected, with an official noting that hydroelectric output — normally reaching 40 million units during the monsoon period — had dropped below 10 million units owing to insufficient rainfall, while thermal units, which had been producing around 70 to 80 million units at the monsoon's onset, were required to raise their output to more than 100 million units per day to compensate. With nationwide electricity consumption factored in, procuring power would have represented a substantial financial burden. Following a drop in coal availability, KPCL representatives travelled to New Delhi to obtain additional fuel allocations, while the government had earlier moved to maintain a stable supply. Talks with the coal ministry secured an extra 8.5 million tonnes beyond the previously assigned quota. Despite central government assurances on availability, Karnataka has been unable to secure adequate coal from Telangana, with an official noting that Singareni Collieries Company Ltd had reduced its deliveries of around eight rakes by approximately half, as the company indicated that Telangana was itself experiencing a drought and required the coal to address its own increased electricity demand. "To address the deficit, additional allocations were obtained from Bharat Coking Coal Ltd (BCCL) and Eastern Coalfields Ltd (ECL)," with officials noting that the supplementary 8.5 million tonnes will be drawn from six suppliers, BCCL contributing the highest portion at 30 lakh tonnes, followed by Central Coalfields Ltd (CCL) at 20 lakh tonnes. Ten lakh tonnes of coal are to be allocated apiece from SCCL's Naini mines in Odisha and from ECL. An additional 8.5 coal rakes per day are projected to be allocated to Karnataka. As of 23 September, the combined coal inventory at RTPS, BTPS, and YTPS stood at approximately 1.8 lakh tonnes, enough to sustain roughly three days of generation at 85% plant load factor (PLF). At the time, RTPS and BTPS held approximately two days' worth of coal reserves, whereas YTPS maintained a four-day supply. On a single day, the trio of facilities burned through 59,130 tonnes of coal to produce 85 million units (MU) of electricity. Across the three facilities, the aggregate plant load factor reached 71 per cent, with BTPS accounting for 32 MU at a 78 per cent rate, YTPS contributing 27 MU at 70 per cent, and RTPS recording 26 MU at 63 per cent.
