Industrial states such as Gujarat and Maharashtra have resorted to load shedding, officials said, with government data showing eastern states such as Jharkhand and Bihar, and Haryana and Uttarakhand in the north reporting power shortages of over 3 per cent each.
Power cuts could stifle industrial activity in Asia's third largest economy, just when economic activity was starting to recover after months of COVID-related lockdowns.
The Russia-Ukraine military conflict, which has increased energy prices globally, will reduce the propensity to import coal by power plants and will further hamper the supply of fuel to captive power plants and industries like steel, aluminium from state-owned Coal India, ICPPA said on Friday.According to the Indian Captive Power Producers Association ICPPA, amid rising energy prices globally, electricity producers will pressurise the government for more domestic coal to fulfill their demand and this will adversely affect fuel supply to the non-power sector.This Russia-Ukraine crisis has increased energy prices globally and that reduces the propensity to import coal and coke.