Earlier this week the Central Electricity Authority logged a steep rise in critical stock counts, from 60 in mid‑September to 96 by 19 October, a jump that underscores the growing pressure on the coal supply chain.
The spike follows a 30‑year high in peak demand, with 45‑50 GW added this year, and a 20% drop in hydropower due to scant monsoon rains.
In a Monday Bloomberg report, officials said the Ministry of Power shelved a proposal to compel plants to import imported coal, citing high international prices and a weaker rupee. Coal Minister Piyush Goyal told reporters that the focus would be on increasing domestic output.
Coal India Ltd has been instructed to ramp up output by 10% and the Indian Railways has pledged faster freight corridors to deliver coal within 48 hours.
At the Jabalpur thermal plant, workers are scrambling to redistribute coal stock as the 40‑tonne per day shortage threatens to halt operations.
The Ministry will review stock levels in a 24‑hour window and may re‑introduce import measures if shortages exceed 120 days.