New Delhi: Coal supply to power plants dipped during the last three years, but declined more in 2020-21 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Parliament was informed on Thursday.
Coal supplies to power plants stood at 643.7 million tonnes in 2018-19, 638.7 million tonnes in 2019-20 and 596.3 million tonnes in 2020-21.
It was 171.7 million tonnes during April to June in 2021.
"The receipt of coal has registered a slight decline during the last three years. However, during 2020-21 the decline was more due to the effect of COVID-19 pandemic prevailing in the country," Power Minister R K Singh said in a written reply in the Lok Sabha.
Moreover, he said the share of power generation from non-fossil fuels (renewable energy) has also been increasing consistently over the years, leading to reduction in plant load factor (PLF or capacity utilisation) of coal-based power plants.
The gas consumption by gas-based power plants was consistent at about 30 MMSCMD (million metric standard cubic metre per day), the minister told the House.