India’s thermal power plants currently hold coal stocks of around 53.41 million tonnes (MT), sufficient to meet approximately 23 days of consumption at current levels, the Ministry of Coal said on Thursday.
The government is also building additional reserves at mine pitheads as a precautionary measure amid disruptions in global oil and gas supplies linked to the Iran conflict.
Coal stockpiles at Coal India Limited have increased from 106.78 MT as of April 1, 2025, to about 125.54 MT as of March 18, 2026. Additional reserves include 5.75 MT at Singareni Collieries Company Limited, 15.75 MT at captive and commercial mines, around 12 MT in transit, and 5.49 MT at ports and sidings.
Coal continues to play a critical role in ensuring baseload power supply for core industries such as steel and cement, supporting India’s economic growth. Production levels remain aligned with demand, while logistics support from Indian Railways is helping maintain steady supplies to consumers.
To enhance availability, Coal India has scheduled 29 e-auctions in March, offering around 23.56 MT of coal. Early auctions have seen strong participation, with 31.96 lakh tonnes booked out of 73.1 lakh tonnes offered, indicating adequate supply in the market.
The company is also ensuring coal supply to small and medium consumers through State Nominated Agencies (SNAs), with state governments being asked to project additional requirements to prevent shortages.
The ministry said it is maintaining a performance-driven ecosystem through policy support, monitoring mechanisms, and stakeholder coordination to ensure uninterrupted coal availability and meet rising energy demand.
