Coal stockpile with power plants rises 31%

New Delhi: Coal-fired power plants in India have sufficient fuel supplies, with total coal reserves reaching 44.7 million tonnes as of October 17. This is an increase of 31.1% from a year ago, despite a depletion of approximately 16 million tonnes over the last four and a half months.Experts said the comfortable stock position reflects improved supply coordination and a higher base before the monsoon season. This was aided by lower power demand in the summer months.In June, power plants started with about 60.7 million tonnes of coal stock, which was 27.8% higher from a year ago, giving a good base and sufficient supplies."The higher stock is because of good opening stock and sustained supplies during summer season," a senior government official told ET. "Q2 saw a drop of 15.5 million tonnes, however, supplies have started picking up again."Coal stocks deplete during monsoon and are usually followed by a pickup in fuel production and dispatch in the second half of the financial year.For FY26, the coal ministry has set a coal production target of 1.15 billion tonnes compared with 1.05 billion tonnes in FY25.Power demand showed moderate growth in July and September and was negative in May and June, partly led by good early monsoon rains, resulting in less demand for cooling from households.According to a report from SBICAPS in September, power supply is expected to be flattish year-on-year in the first half of the ongoing financial year.

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