The Maharashtra State Power Generation Company (Mahagenco) has enhanced coal backup at five thermal power stations, improving the supply of the commodity to the state.

Mahagenco receives supply from Western Coalfields Limited (WCL). An official said that the daily supply of coal had been around 1.4 lakh tonnes, compared to 1.2 lakh tonnes.

He said that the enhanced supply of coal from WCL has a backup of 7-9 days at the five thermal power stations. The company aims to have a similar backup at the Nashik and Bhausawal power stations, where the current coal backup is seven lakh tonnes.

Maha genco needs 1.3 lakh of coal to operate the seven thermal power stations to generate 7,400 MW of power per day amid rising power demand due to extreme weather conditions.

According to an official, when the coal supply was less than the daily requirement, the existing stocks at the thermal power plants were depleting, but the company have been able to strengthen the stocks.

With the Chief Managing Director of Maha genco, Sanjay Khandare, the power utility director, P V Jadhav has been working to improve coal supply from WCL.

The official said there is a huge demand for coal from several states. The company has set teams at 11 mining sites of WCL at more than 12 railway sidings for dispatching coal to thermal power plants, which has started yielding better with improved supply.

The state's daily power demand is 22,700 MW-23,000 MW, and the state power demand, including Mumbai, is 26,500-27,000 MW per day.

The total generation capacity of Maha genco from thermal, gas and hydropower stations is more than 9,100 MW. The rest of the power demand is met by the central and private players.

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