Coal Stocks Shrink as Demand Rises, Power Ministry Delays Maintenance
What Happened
Government data shows 45 coal-fired power plants in India are operating with critically low coal inventories, up from 31 at the end of July. Heavy rainfall in key coal-producing states such as Odisha, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh has disrupted mining and transportation, while higher electricity demand linked to El Niño-driven weather has increased fuel consumption.
Key Takeaways
Coal stocks at power plants have fallen 19% since end-July to 30.95 million tonnes, equivalent to about 10 days of operational requirement. The government has asked some plants to postpone scheduled maintenance until supply conditions improve.