Heavy rain has disrupted production and transport in major coal-producing states, prompting corrective supply measures.
NEW DELHI:
India has increased coal shipments by rail after the number of power stations with critically low fuel inventories climbed to 58, the Coal Ministry said on Monday.
The affected plants either held less than 25 per cent of their required inventories or had sufficient coal for fewer than three days of generation. The number increased from 46 at the end of August to 58 by September 5; 53 rely on domestic coal.
Coal loading for power plants rose from 370 rakes on September 3 to 444 on September 6, according to government data. Supplies from Coal India, its subsidiaries and private mines have increased as officials attempt to rebuild inventories.
Heavy rainfall in Odisha, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh affected mining and slowed transportation. Coal India said it retained approximately 76 million tonnes at pitheads, suggesting the immediate constraint involves production and movement as well as aggregate availability.
Coal supplies roughly three-quarters of India’s electricity generation, making short inventories a grid-reliability concern. The figures do not establish that widespread power cuts are imminent, but stations with fewer than three days of stock have limited protection against further transport disruption or unexpected demand.
The ministry said the affected plants were being closely monitored and corrective supply measures were underway. Daily rake loading, plant-level stocks and electricity demand will indicate whether the position is stabilising.
