India’s Power Grid Strains as Coal Reserves Hit Critical Lows

Data from the Central Electricity Authority confirms that these facilities are operating with less than 25% of their required stock, or lack enough fuel to sustain three consecutive days of generation. This represents a sharp deterioration from July, when only 31 plants faced similar shortages. The shortfall is largely attributed to supply chain bottlenecks, as heavy rains hinder the movement of coal from mining regions to thermal plants.

According to analysis by the consultancy BigMint, power plants drew down their inventories by 15.5% between August 1 and August 23. An official at NTPC, India’s largest thermal power producer, described the situation as hand-to-mouth, noting that plants are receiving only half the necessary train rakes required to maintain stable operations. To prevent outages, the power ministry has directed operators to postpone scheduled maintenance until supply chains stabilize.