Photo credit: IANS NEW DELHI: Allaying fears of shortages amid intense summer and high electricity demand, Coal India said there was a buffer stock of 168 million tonnes of dry fuel in the country, adequate to meet the requirements of domestic thermal power plants for 19 days.The company also said compression in coal stock levels at thermal plants during peak summer was a natural occurrence and around 50 MT of in-situ mine coal was readily available for quicker extraction and supply if demand necessitated.Coal-fired power stations are expected to maintain 26 days of “normative” stock, calculated at 85% plant load factor, or the quantum of electricity generated compared to the maximum possible output at full capacity. Against the requirement of 75 MT of coal to maintain this level, total stock availability stood at 49.7 MT, or 66% of the normative requirement.As per the daily coal stock report compiled by the Central Electricity Authority, of the 190 coal-fired plants in the country with a collective capacity of 223 gw, 24 had critical coal stocks as on May 26, meaning availability was less than 25% of the normative requirement.India is currently reeling under an intense heatwave, sending power demand spiralling in most parts of the country. Peak power demand touched 271 gw on May 21. Coal-based power plants provide nearly 68% of the country’s total electricity requirement during the day.Coal India Limited, which supplies nearly 80% of the country’s coal requirement, however, said stocks at domestic coal-based plants stood at 47.6 MT as on May 23, while inventory at its own mine heads was at a “comfortable level” of 113.5 MT as on May 24, 10% higher than the corresponding period in 2025.“This level is sufficient to meet 19 days of consumption. Added to this, around 3 MT of coal is awaiting movement at transit points such as goods sheds, private washeries and ports,” CIL said in a statement.The public sector company said around 4 MT of coal remained in transit at any point of time, taking the total coal available in the system to 168 MT. CIL said it had advised power plants with low coal availability to build up stocks in advance for peak demand periods. “As such, CIL has adequate quantity to meet the generation capacity of domestic coal-based plants,” it said.Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Bakrid wishes, messages and eid 2026!About the AuthorAtul MathurAtul Mathur is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Times of India with over 27 years of experience in journalism. Based in Delhi, he has spent much of his career reporting on governance, public policy and politics, churning out researched, data-driven stories that impact daily lives. Atul is known for investigative depth and strong human-interest narratives as he strives to bring clarity and context to complex issues. He currently tracks the energy sector, writing on power, renewable energy, coal and mines.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosBig Blow To Mamata: TMC MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar Resigns From All Party PostsRahul Gandhi Attacks Modi Govt Over CBSE OSM Row As Report Claims Warnings Were IgnoredCPI(M) Workers Attack ED Vehicle In Kerala During Massive Protest Over CMRL RaidsWest Bengal Politics Heat Up As BJP MP Claims Mass Defections From Trinamool CongressWhat Is The Government Trying To Address Through Its New Demography Panel?Air India Temporarily Reduces Domestic Flight Frequencies Amid Fuel Price Surge, West Asia TensionsRathan U Kelkar’s Appointment As Kerala CM Secretary Triggers Political ControversyEbola Alert In Karnataka After Ugandan Traveller Shifted To Bengaluru Isolation Facility | WatchSupreme Court Upholds Election Commission’s Power To Conduct Special Roll Revision Drive | Watch‘Should I Quit Or Try Again?’: UPSC Aspirants React After Unpredictable Prelims 2026 Paper123Photostories5 classic hill stations in India that are also traffic nightmaresThe body check: What workplace stress is secretly doing to your brain, heart and sleepRCB reaches the IPL 2026 finale, and Virat Kohli celebrates the only way he knows – by twinning with Anushka SharmaVarun Dhawan’s ‘Chunnari Chunnari’, Kiara Advani’s ‘Cheez Badi’ to Jacqueline’s ‘Ek Do Teen’ : Bollywood song remakes that failed to impress audiences10 unique sea snakes and places they can be found on beach by travellersSuccess quote of the day by Ernest Hemingway: “There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man…”Shah Rukh Khan’s legendary ‘Om Shanti Om’ 6-pack wasn’t just built in the gym; Know the makeup magic that fooled everyoneCotton vs linen: What’s the real difference and which one should you actually wear?4 personality traits of Akshay Kumar that make him a go-getter and an eternal action heroEven while resting, the brain may still be overworked, neurologists warn about today’s “always-on” lifestyle123Hot PicksIPL Live ScoreNHL Trade RumorsMira Road protestSiddaramaiah8th Pay CommissionTushar KumarAir India flightTop TrendingByju’s founder RaveendranBank holiday todayIndian Air ForceDelhi temperatureRed BalloonBengaluru Ebola CasePune curfewRahul GandhiHDFC ShareIndian Rupee
NEW DELHI: Allaying fears of shortages amid intense summer and high electricity demand, Coal India said there was a buffer stock of 168 million tonnes of dry fuel in the country, adequate to meet the requirements of domestic thermal power plants for 19 days.The company also said compression in coal stock levels at thermal plants during peak summer was a natural occurrence and around 50 MT of in-situ mine coal was readily available for quicker extraction and supply if demand necessitated.Coal-fired power stations are expected to maintain 26 days of “normative” stock, calculated at 85% plant load factor, or the quantum of electricity generated compared to the maximum possible output at full capacity. Against the requirement of 75 MT of coal to maintain this level, total stock availability stood at 49.7 MT, or 66% of the normative requirement.As per the daily coal stock report compiled by the Central Electricity Authority, of the 190 coal-fired plants in the country with a collective capacity of 223 gw, 24 had critical coal stocks as on May 26, meaning availability was less than 25% of the normative requirement.India is currently reeling under an intense heatwave, sending power demand spiralling in most parts of the country. Peak power demand touched 271 gw on May 21. Coal-based power plants provide nearly 68% of the country’s total electricity requirement during the day.Coal India Limited, which supplies nearly 80% of the country’s coal requirement, however, said stocks at domestic coal-based plants stood at 47.6 MT as on May 23, while inventory at its own mine heads was at a “comfortable level” of 113.5 MT as on May 24, 10% higher than the corresponding period in 2025.“This level is sufficient to meet 19 days of consumption. Added to this, around 3 MT of coal is awaiting movement at transit points such as goods sheds, private washeries and ports,” CIL said in a statement.The public sector company said around 4 MT of coal remained in transit at any point of time, taking the total coal available in the system to 168 MT. CIL said it had advised power plants with low coal availability to build up stocks in advance for peak demand periods. “As such, CIL has adequate quantity to meet the generation capacity of domestic coal-based plants,” it said.
