Coal stocks at India’s domestic-coal-based power plants stood at 28.36 million tonnes (MT) as of August 24, enough for just 9.7 days of coal consumption against an aggregate normative requirement of 19.4 days, according to Central Electricity Authority (CEA) data analysed by Moneycontrol.
The available stock is equivalent to about half of the aggregate normative cover, leaving the domestic-coal-based fleet with a relatively thin buffer against any disruption in coal supplies.
The August 24 level is also likely to be the lowest stock position recorded so far this year.
CEA’s plant-level remarks point to supply and logistics constraints, rather than a shortage of coal production, as some of the immediate reasons for the low stocks. Several plants have flagged issues related railway rake availability, unloading constraints and delays in lifting coal from captive mines. At some plants, the CEA has also flagged coal lying at ports or in transit and asked generators to clear the material.
Monsoon adds to coal supply risks
The June-September monsoon is a key test for coal supplies to power plants, as heavy rains can disrupt mining, coal evacuation and railway movement. This can slow the movement of coal to power stations just as thermal plants may need to maintain generation to meet demand, putting pressure on inventories.
Compared with the same date over the last five years, the August 24 stock level was a four-year low, only marginally above the 28.11 MT recorded in 2022. Stocks stood at 29.55 MT in 2023, 37.52 MT in 2024 and 48.18 MT in 2025.
The coal available at the plants was also enough for the fewest days on August 24 in the five-year comparison — 9.7 days, compared with 10.8 days in 2022, 11.2 days in 2023, 13.8 days in 2024 and 17 days in 2025.
The pressure on coal stocks comes against a backdrop of high thermal generation. Electricity demand has remained elevated this year, while weaker hydropower output has increased reliance on thermal generation.
Despite the rapid scale-up of renewable energy, coal remains central to India’s electricity system, accounting for roughly two-thirds of generation and providing firm power when renewable output varies.
Queries sent by Moneycontrol to the Ministry of Power remained unanswered at the time of publication.
Source: Moneycontrol
