Coal stocks at domestic coal-based power plants have remained above 18 million tonnes since September 29, with depletion rates showing significant improvement in October. According to the coal ministry, stock depletion slowed to an average of 0.06 million tonnes per day during October 1-10, compared with around 0.24 million tonnes per day in September. Coal stocks stood at 18.205 million tonnes on October 10, compared with 18.932 million tonnes on September 29, as reported by the ministry. The stabilisation reflects coal supplies keeping pace with daily consumption at power plants, with coal stock accretion recorded on two days in October - increasing by 0.024 MT on October 2 and 0.017 MT on October 10. However, as of October 10, actual stocks stood at 20.78 MT, which was just 33 per cent of the required level, with 87 plants reporting critically low stocks, an improvement from 92 plants as of October 4. The improvement has been driven by higher rake loading, with supplies to plants with critically low stocks being closely monitored, and coal being redistributed to vulnerable stations based on their requirements to ensure adequate availability and uninterrupted power generation.
The improvement in coal stock levels was driven by increased coal loading and supplies to the power sector. Rake loading to the power sector averaged 469 rakes per day during October 1-10, up from 426 rakes per day in September, marking an increase of about 10 per cent. Daily loading during the period ranged between 447 and 482 rakes. Actual coal supplies to the power sector averaged 2.49 million tonnes per day in October up to the 10th, compared with 2.21 million tonnes per day in September, exceeding the planned 2.37 million tonnes on nine of the 10 days. The ministry continues to work in close coordination with Coal India Limited (CIL), SCCL, the Ministry of Railways and power utilities to ensure sustained coal evacuation and supply, thereby maintaining adequate coal stocks at thermal power plants. The increase in supplies has been supported partly by drawing down accumulated pithead inventories, with CIL liquidating 63 MT of pithead coal stocks during the first half of FY27, indicating that existing inventories were also used to support consumer supplies.
The ministry highlighted the contrasting trends between September and October performance. In September 2026, coal stocks at power plants had declined by around 7.28 million tonnes over the month, compared with a fall of only 0.56 million tonnes during the first 10 days of October. Coal stocks also recorded increases on October 2 and October 10, rising by 24,000 tonnes and 17,000 tonnes respectively, as reported by the ministry. The improvement has been driven by higher rake loading, with supplies to plants with critically low stocks being closely monitored, and coal being redistributed to vulnerable stations based on their requirements to ensure adequate availability and uninterrupted power generation. The ministry duly acknowledges and appreciates the continued support and professional commitment of Indian Railways in facilitating the efficient movement of coal, with supply to plants with critical stocks being closely monitored through requirement-based redistribution to vulnerable stations.
The improved coal supply situation has supported increased power generation demand. Domestic coal-based power generation rose 10 per cent to 640.05 billion units (BU) in the first half of FY27 from 582.5 BU in the corresponding period last year. However, as noted by Rohit Vijay, associate fellow at CSEP, the position has stabilised but stocks have not started rebuilding, with plants still using slightly more coal than they receive and consumption also appearing to have gone up. The national figure also hides differences between plants, with plants located far from mines usually holding much less coal than pithead plants and being the first to face shortages. Vijay emphasised that stocks now need to build up steadily over the coming months through higher domestic supply and imports where needed, so that plants are not short of coal when demand rises again next summer.
