Coal supply to power plants to normalise soon, Indian official says

New Delhi: Coal supply to Indian power plants is expected to normalise soon, a senior power ministry official said on Thursday, adding that the country is supplying a record 2.6 million tons of coal to power plants every day.

The comments come as the number of power plants with critically low coal stocks - enough fuel to generate power for less than three days - ​rose to 96 as of October 19 from 60 in mid-September, according to data from the Central Electricity Authority

India increased coal supply to plants, including top power generator NTPC, after scattered rains in mining areas disrupted deliveries


Reduced hydropower use is adding pressure on coal-fired plants as the El Nino weather pattern has affected rainfall, the official said. Daily peak electricity demand has risen by about 45 to 50 gigawatts from a year earlier, driven by hotter weather and higher industrial production.

The federal power ministry has allocated additional power to Gujarat, India's top industrial state, and there is no power or coal shortage in the state, the official said.

Reuters reported on Wednesday that Gujarat has asked factories to curb electricity use during evening hours to avoid power shortages due to surging demand.

Gujarat state authorities declined to comment on the report.