The RSR (rail-sea-rail route) requirement for coal supply from Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL) in
Odisha to Talwandi Sabo Power Limited has been revoked by the Center.
Punjab’s (TSPL). Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said on Monday that the state would not
experience any power shortages this summer and thanked Union Power Minister R K Singh for the
decision.
Mann tweeted that he also talked about the summertime solar power supply from Madhya Pradesh
to Punjab after meeting with R K Singh in Delhi. The topic of expanding the Pachhwara coal mine’s
capacity was also brought up. There won’t be any power outages this summer, he assured.
The union minister stated that it was made clear that it was entirely the responsibility of the states
to transport coal and that no specific route or port was specified by the Center. According to Mann,
the union minister also remarked that Punjab may receive more coal from MCL and that it was
welcome to transport it through any other method. R K Singh and Mann held a meeting on
December 9 of last year during which Mann brought up the problem of coal transportation.
In the past, the ministry had decided to use the RSR mode to transport coal to thermal plants in
states like Punjab, Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Maharashtra due to logistical difficulties in transporting
coal from eastern Indian mines.
Mann brought up a different problem and urged R K Singh to increase coal supplies from the
Pachwara coal mine. He claimed that the Union coal ministry was now considering a request to
increase the supply of coal from captive coal mines. Mann stated that the case had previously been
forwarded by the electricity ministry with favourable recommendations to the ministry of coal and
had been referred to the ministry of law for further legal review.
Also, Mann encouraged R K Singh to request that Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) purchase
3,000 MW of renewable energy continuously.
(RE-RTC). He said that in August 2022, the PSPCL informed SECI of its in-principle approval to
purchase 3000 MW of RE-RTC. Mann claimed that the power demands of Punjab and Madhya
Pradesh were complementary, and that SECI was working on a joint plan. He said that the SECI was
unable to move forward on this matter because the standard bidding document was not finalised.
Mann revealed following the meeting that a letter dated February 24 stated that Punjab has the
option of not obtaining coal via the marine channel. “Because it is the more affordable option for us,
we choose to carry coal via train. In order to obtain 3,000 MW of solar power during the busiest
summer months, we have sought a partnership with Madhya Pradesh “Added he. “There won’t be
any power outages in the industrial or in the agricultural sector since there will be enough coal and
power available. To lower the cost of electricity, we can provide thermal plants with additional coal
“added he.
The chief minister declared that the state was attempting to wean farmers off of paddy, which not
only calls for a greater supply of electricity but also entails the issue of paddy stubble.