While residents are relieved as the rain has finally stopped in Bokaro, power plants are facing a severe coal shortage due to the rain's impact on mining production. Although power plants are currently operating on their buffer coal stock, they have not yet reduced production. However, if the coal crisis persists, they may be forced to consider production cuts, according to power company management.

Bokaro, located in Jharkhand, is unique in having four power plants. Among these, Bokaro Power Supply Company Private Limited (BPSCL), with an installed capacity of 338 MW, and Tenughat Thermal Power Station (420 MW) have only 10 to 15 days' worth of coal stock remaining. They are eagerly awaiting a single supply of coal soon to meet their daily requirements.

The 500 MW Bokaro Thermal Power Station (BTPS) and the Chandrapura Thermal Power Station (CTPS), both operated by the Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC), are also dealing with limited coal supplies. CTPS recently received four coal rakes, and BTPS, which was running on buffer stock, expects regular coal supply soon. DVC sources mention that CTPS's production had dropped to 300 MW but is gradually increasing with the renewed coal supply.

Continuous rain until Friday had a significant impact on coal production in the mines of Central Coalfield Limited (CCL) and Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL). These mines primarily supply coal to power units located in the coal belt region, including Bermo in Bokaro, Ramgarh, and Dhanbad.

Even BPSCL, which supplies its entire power production to Bokaro Steel Plant (BSL) to support its steel production and provide electricity to its township, is struggling with coal shortages. The CEO of BPSCL, Aninda Das, explained that they require 4,000 metric tonnes of coal daily. On normal days, they receive one coal rail rake a day, but recent rain has disrupted coal supply. They expect to receive one coal rake in the next two to three days. While they have not yet reduced power generation, they are currently relying on their buffer coal stock.

A similar situation is faced by Tenughat Thermal Power Station (TTPS), which has approximately 50,000 metric tonnes of coal left in its stock, while it requires 6,000 metric tonnes daily to run its two 210 MW power units. The Managing Director of TTPS, Anil Kumar Sharma, stated that although they are dealing with a coal crisis, power generation remains normal. They expect one coal rake every two to three days, but if this situation continues and the buffer stock is depleted, they may have to reduce production.