Coal stocks hit critical levels as heat keeps power demand high

Critically low stocks have spread to 59 thermal power plants as electricity demand remains elevated, putting pressure on generation despite higher deliveries and adequate pithead inventories.The number of power plants with critically low coal stocks — defined as having less than 25% of the required inventory or enough fuel to generate power for fewer than three days — rose sharply to 59 as of September 9Nearly a third of the country's coal-fired power plants are operating with critically low fuel stocks as a prolonged spell of hot weather keeps electricity demand elevated, despite government efforts to boost supplies, government data cited by news agency Reuters showed.India's peak power demand has remained close to the record 270.70 gigawatts (GW) reached in May. Over the past few days, demand has consistently touched around 267 GW, driven by higher cooling needs amid an El Nino weather pattern.The number of power plants with critically low coal stocks — defined as having less than 25% of the required inventory or enough fuel to generate power for fewer than three days — rose sharply to 59 as of September 9, from 45 at the end of August, data from the Central Electricity Authority showed."The increasing number of power plants with lower coal stocks is a concern," said Manoj Kumar, an analyst at the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air. While clean energy, particularly solar power, is meeting a large share of daytime electricity demand, limited battery storage and lower water reservoir levels are putting greater pressure on coal-fired generation, analysts said.In the immediate term, India needs to increase coal supplies to power utilities, particularly through the rail network, to keep stocks at normal levels, Kumar said. The government has already stepped up deliveries. India deployed 444 coal rakes on September 6, up from 370 on September 3, to boost supplies to power plants.Coal India and its subsidiaries have also increased coal shipments by road.Coal India, the world's largest coal miner, said it continues to hold adequate stocks of around 76 million metric tons at its pitheads.- EndsPublished By: Koustav DasPublished On: Sep 11, 2026 15:34 IST