More Stories

Informist, Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2026

 

NEW DELHI – The country currently has 123.7 million tonnes of coal, enough for 51 days, Coal and Mines Minister G. Kishan Reddy said Tuesday. "There was a problem in coal production due to monsoon rain. There was an effect for 10 days. But today, there is no problem at all, the minister told reporters on the sidelines of the launch of the corporate social responsibility framework for state-owned coal companies. 
 

"I have a total of 123.7 million tonnes of coal. For 51 days, I have reserves of coal in the country (at the current consumption rate of 2.4 million tonnes per day). That's why we don't have any problem with the critical power generation plants," Reddy said. 
 

Mines and transit have 100 million tonnes of coal, while the thermal power plants have coal stocks of 23.7 million tonnes. Coal-based power generation increased 9.1% year-on-year to 535.8 billion units during Apr-Aug from 491.2 billion units in the same period last year, as per the data from the ministry. 

 

The minister's comments come amid reports of plummeting coal stocks at critical thermal plants across India. Coal stocks at power plants are currently sufficient for 23 days, the minister said.

 

"Coal production has increased a lot in the last two to three days. That's why there is no need to worry. I am monitoring the coal production with the coal companies. I am also monitoring the coal production with the railways and the power ministry... I am giving coal to the places where coal is needed," Reddy said. 

 

The railway ministry has also increased the number of rakes, according to the minister. "There was a shortage (of rakes) in MCL (Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd.) There is a lot of coal production in Mahanadi Coalfields. The railway ministry has increased the number of rakes," he said. According to the ministry, additional coal is being offered to power plants by road mode to supplement rail supplies and meet increased demand.

 

The ministry can increase coal production if there is less rainfall for a week, according to the minister. "Since last year, coal production has increased by 4.5% year-to-date growth. It will increase in the coming days," Reddy said. During Apr–Aug, coal supply to power plants increased to 346.72 million tonnes from 331.70 million tonnes during the corresponding period last year, according to ministry data.   End

 

Reported by Astha Oriel and Gunjan Rajput

Edited by Deepshikha Bhardwaj

 

For users of real-time market data terminals, Informist news is available exclusively on the NSE Cogencis WorkStation.

 

Cogencis news is now Informist news. This follows the acquisition of Cogencis Information Services Ltd. by NSE Data & Analytics Ltd., a 100% subsidiary of the National Stock Exchange of India Ltd. As a part of the transaction, the news department of Cogencis has been sold to Informist Media Pvt. Ltd.

 

Informist Media Tel +91 (11) 4220-1000

Send comments to feedback@informistmedia.com

 

© Informist Media Pvt. Ltd. 2026. All rights reserved.