Business · India Bureau
Coal shortage deepens as 77 thermal plants face critical inventory crisis
Thermal power plants across India are grappling with dangerously low coal stocks, with 77 facilities operating at critical inventory levels. Current reserves cover just seven days of consumption and represent only 37 per cent of required stockpiles, though industry observers attribute the crunch to temporary logistical constraints.
LSN India ·
Coal inventories at Indian thermal power generation facilities have deteriorated significantly, with nearly 77 plants now reporting critically low stock levels. The aggregate coal reserves across the power sector amount to just seven days of operational supply, falling substantially short of the required reserve buffer.
Current stockpiles stand at 37 per cent of the inventory requirement, creating a precarious situation for power generation capacity. The shortfall threatens power availability during peak demand periods and has prompted concerns among grid operators about maintaining adequate electricity supplies across the country.
Industry analysts characterize the shortage as primarily a logistics and supply chain challenge rather than a fundamental deficit in coal availability. Transportation bottlenecks, distribution delays, and seasonal factors have been cited as contributing to the inventory gap. Railway capacity constraints and mining output synchronization issues have compounded the problem of delivering coal stocks to thermal plants across India's sprawling geography.
Power sector officials are implementing measures to accelerate coal movement and increase plant dispatch from mining zones. The situation underscores ongoing challenges in matching coal supply with the demands of India's growing thermal power generation fleet, even as the country pursues renewable energy expansion.