India Faces Severe Power Shortages Amid Driest Monsoon Since 2009

India is facing peak power shortages that have surpassed levels recorded during summer heat waves, with nighttime shortfalls reaching 7.7 gigawatts in September. A powerful El Niño has caused precipitation to fall 15 per cent below normal levels, creating the potentially driest monsoon since 2009.

This rainfall deficit triggered a 12 per cent drop in hydropower generation during the first three weeks of September. To compensate for the loss and meet industrial and cooling demands, the Indian Ministry of Power reported that coal-fired production increased by 18 per cent this month.

The shift to coal has depleted fuel inventories to their lowest levels in three years. Data from 196 surveyed power plants shows that 40 per cent of facilities are holding critical stockpiles of less than a quarter of their required reserves. In response to the supply crunch, Coal India has been tasked with accelerating fuel shipments to the affected plants.