Coal mine revival yields Rs.950-CR savings for Punjab power sector
Chandigarh, April 1:
In a major advancement toward ensuring uninterrupted and cost-effective coal supply for Its thermal power plants, the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) has reached a significant milestone by achieving the peak rated capacity of 70 lakh tonnes at its Pachhwara Central Coal Mine in Financial Year 2024-25, informed Power Minister S. Harbhajan Singh ETO in a press communique issued here today.
The Cabinet Minister S. Harbhajan Singh ETO said that the Pachhwara Mine, which had remained non-operational since March 31, 2015, was successfully revived in December 2022 under the proactive leadership of Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann. Since its revival, the mine has supplied 115 lakh tonnes of coal to PSPCL’s thermal power stations, generating estimated savings of Rs.950 crore compared to Cost of coal procured from Coal India Limited (CIL), significantly reducing power generation costs.
The Cabinet Minister said, achieving peak rated capacity at Pachhwara Mine showcased that Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann led government is committed to energy security, operational efficiency and financial prudence, adding that this milestone will enhance self-reliance in coal procurement, diminishes dependence on external sources and stabilizes power supply for Punjab.
Commenting on the achievement, Power Minister S. Harbhajan Singh ETO said, “This remarkable success at Pachhwara Mine showing department’s dedication toward enhancing Punjab’s energy security. By ensuring a steady and economical supply of coal, we are committed to providing reliable and affordable electricity to consumers.” This achievement is expected to further strengthen the state’s power infrastructure and help maintain stable electricity tariffs, he added.
The Cabinet Minister further said that with the operationalization of the mine, PSPCL has transferred its Coal India linkage to independent power producers (IPPs) at Talwandi Sabo and Rajpura under the flexi policy, eliminating the need for imported or alternative coal, which also had contributed to conserving to valuable foreign Exchange for our country. The availability of high-quality coal has significantly improved the Plant Load Factor (PLF) of PSPCL’s own thermal power plants.
