Rail Congestion Curbs Coal Supply and Power Dispatch from Adani’s Godda Plant

Coal transport constraints force output adjustment

Adani Power has reduced electricity dispatch to Bangladesh from its 1,600 MW Godda power plant after disruptions to coal transportation restricted fuel deliveries, The Business Standard reported. The company said severe railway congestion and multiple loading restrictions across the transport network had impeded the movement of coal-carrying railway rakes to the plant.

In a statement issued on 2 September through 5W Communications, its public relations firm in Bangladesh, Adani Power said the plant was receiving less coal than normal and had therefore been temporarily forced to optimise production. The company moderated dispatch during off-peak daytime hours to conserve enough generating capacity for Bangladesh’s evening demand peak.

Adani said it had kept the Bangladesh Power Development Board informed and was working with Indian Railways to restore the normal availability of coal rakes. The company expects the situation to normalise shortly and said it is taking measures to maximise coal deliveries and limit the effect on electricity supply. It did not provide a specific timetable for restoring full dispatch.

Daytime supply falls below forecast

Power Grid Bangladesh data cited by The Business Standard showed a marked gap between scheduled and delivered electricity. At 8am on 2 September, Godda supplied 828 MW against a forecast of 1,436 MW, a difference of 608 MW. Output then remained near 920 MW through much of the day before increasing to 1,061 MW at 5pm.

The plant delivered 923 MW at 10am and 924 MW at 11am. Dispatch stood at 913 MW at noon, 921 MW at 1pm, 920 MW at 2pm and 943 MW at 3pm, before easing to 924 MW at 4pm. These readings indicate that available supply was being held well below the plant’s 1,600 MW nameplate capacity during daylight hours.

The previous day also showed the company shifting available generation toward the evening peak. On 1 September, Adani supplied 827 MW at 5pm and 861 MW at 6pm against demand of 1,436 MW. Dispatch subsequently climbed to 1,314 MW at 7pm, 1,315 MW at 7:30pm and 1,312 MW at 8pm.

Bangladesh faces wider generation shortfall

The coal logistics disruption has emerged while Bangladesh is already experiencing a significant electricity deficit. According to The Business Standard, a gas supply crunch has affected the country’s power plants and contributed to ongoing load-shedding. Reduced imports from Godda during the day are likely to intensify pressure on the system until coal deliveries and generation recover.

The episode highlights the operational exposure created when cross-border electricity supply depends on a fuel chain involving railway capacity and coal-loading availability in the exporting country. Although Adani’s dispatch strategy preserved more output for evening consumption, the data show that Bangladesh received substantially less electricity than forecast during several daytime periods.

For Bangladesh’s power market, the immediate variables are the pace at which Indian Railways can clear congestion, the removal of loading restrictions and the restoration of coal inventories at Godda. Until those constraints ease, the plant may continue balancing limited fuel availability against Bangladesh’s daily demand profile, prioritising higher evening requirements over off-peak daytime dispatch.