Key facts
- More than 50 coal-fired power plants in India have critically low coal stocks.
- Coal stocks at these plants have fallen below 25% of normative requirements.
- Rising electricity demand, exacerbated by El Niño and disrupted monsoon rains, has strained supply.
- Coal shipments via rail to power plants have been increased.
- The Ministry of Coal and Coal India Limited are monitoring the situation and implementing corrective measures.
India is intensifying rail deliveries of coal to its power plants as stockpiles at numerous facilities have dropped to critically low levels, according to the country's Ministry of Coal. As of September 5, 53 coal-fired power plants, which generate the majority of India's electricity, had coal reserves below the critical threshold of 25% of normative requirements.
This situation has been exacerbated by a confluence of factors, including rising electricity demand driven by strong El Niño-induced heatwaves and disruptions to domestic supply and transportation caused by monsoon rains. Data from the Central Electricity Authority showed the number of plants with critically low stocks increased from 45 on August 26 to 53 by September 5.
In response, coal shipments via rail have been ramped up, reflecting efforts by Coal India Limited (CIL), its subsidiaries, SCCL, and captive mine operators to bolster supply to the power sector. The Ministry of Coal stated that these critical thermal plants are being closely monitored, with corrective measures already in place to improve the supply situation. CIL has reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining the upward trend in coal rakes supplied to the power sector to meet demand.